Vitamin B complex includes eight B vitamins that help your body metabolize the foods you eat. You can find B vitamins in a variety of foods, including meat, produce, grains, nuts and dairy products. Since these vitamins are available in so many foods, deficiencies rarely occur. However, when they do, they result in a number of health issues.
Fatigue
A major role of the B vitamins is to act as coenzymes to generate energy from the foods you eat. Deficiency of these vitamins can lead to anemia, weakness and muscle wasting. For example, you may have inadequate vitamin B-12 levels from failure to ingest enough or from your intestine's inability to absorb that which you do consume. Inadequate vitamin B-12 can lead to pernicious anemia, in which your body does not make enough red blood cells. This leads to extreme fatigue and shortness of breath since your red blood cells transport the oxygen your cells need to function.
Nervous System Disorders
Vitamin B complex is responsible for proper nervous system development and function. Cognitive problems from vitamin B complex deficiency include confusion, irritability, depression and difficulty sleeping. If vitamin B-1, or thiamine, is deficient, you may be unable to properly break down carbohydrates, which results in a condition called beriberi. Beriberi causes you to experience confusion and uncontrolled eye movements. Mild deficiency of vitamin B-3 causes mental irritability, but if left untreated, severe deficiency will cause dementia. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause degeneration of the nerves to your fingers and toes, leading to numbness and tingling.
Digestive Disorders
Since B complex vitamins aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins and fat, vitamin deficiency causes problems with digestion. Vitamin B-5 and biotin are responsible for both the breakdown of foods for energy and the synthesis of fats. Deficiency can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. However, vitamin B-5 and biotin deficiencies usually only occur in severe malnutrition since they are available in almost every food group. You may also experience diarrhea if you fail to consume enough folic acid or niacin.
Skin Disorders
Skin disorders are a common effect of B vitamin deficiencies. A deficiency of vitamin B-2 or vitamin B6 can cause cracks around your mouth in a condition known as chelitis. These cracks and fissures can easily become irritated or infected, leading to additional pain and discomfort. Irritation and inflammation called dermatitis may also occur around your nose and mouth. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause glossitis, in which your tongue loses the slightly rough projections that give it its normal texture. Your tongue swells, becoming smooth and inflamed.
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