Vitamin Deficiencies And Tongue

Deficiencies in certain B vitamins, including vitamin B-12, vitamin B-6 and folate, can cause soreness and swelling in the tongue. Vitamin deficiencies can cause other potential serious health problems, so contact your doctor if you suspect you might have a deficiency.

Glossitis

Symptoms of glossitis include swelling, inflammation, soreness and color changes in the tongue. These problems might cause difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking. Glossitis associated with deficiencies in B vitamins often causes a fiery red tongue, while glossitis associated with pernicious anemia often causes a pale tongue. Causes of glossitis other than nutritional deficiencies include allergic reactions, bacterial or viral infections, burns, iron deficiency, yeast infection and alcohol, tobacco or spices.

Geographic Tongue

Geographic tongue refers to a condition in which irregular patches or lesions appear on the surface of the tongue, often moving from day to day. Geographic tongue might also cause soreness and burning pain. Deficiencies in B vitamins, as well as irritation from alcohol or spicy foods, might cause geographic tongue.

Deficiency Risk Factors

Individuals at high risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency include those with insufficient B-12 intake, such as vegetarians and vegans, and those with chronic malabsorption of B-12 caused by atrophic gastritis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease or pernicious anemia. Chronic alcohol abuse, liver disease, kidney dialysis treatments and anti-convulsant medications can increase the risk for folate deficiency. While vitamin B-6 deficiency occurs only rarely in the United States, alcoholics and older adults might have a higher risk of developing this condition than other individuals.

Other Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B-12 deficiency and folate deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia, with symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Long-term vitamin B-12 deficiency can damage neurological function and the nervous system, leading to numbness and tingling in hands and feet, confusion, memory loss, depression and dementia. Folate deficiency can cause headaches, irritability, heart palpitations and behavioral problems, and vitamin B-6 deficiency can cause skin inflammation, convulsions, depression and confusion.

Treatment

Oral supplements of vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, can help prevent deficiencies in high-risk groups. Deficiencies caused by certain types of malabsorption, especially pernicious anemia, might require treatment with intramuscular injections. Tongue problems associated with a vitamin deficiency should clear up with treatment of the deficiency.