Vitamin B-12, a water-soluble nutrient present in many animal-based foods, plays an essential role in red blood cell production, fat and protein metabolism, DNA synthesis and neurological function. Vitamin B-12 deficiency can damage the nervous system, causing symptoms of numbness or tingling in the hands. Consult your doctor if you have finger pain and you suspect you may have vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Causes of B-12 Deficiency
Inadequate consumption or absorption of vitamin B-12 can cause vitamin B-12 deficiency. Individuals at high risk for this deficiency include older adults, vegetarians, vegans, people who have had gastrointestinal surgery and people with atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia and gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease. Some of these conditions, especially pernicious anemia, may require treatment with intramuscular B-12 injections, notes the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.
Nerve Symptoms
Signs of nervous system damage caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency include numbness and tingling in hands and feet and difficulty maintaining balance. A high intake of folic acid can mask the symptoms of megaloblastic anemia commonly associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency, making the condition harder to diagnose, the NIH notes. Folic acid does not correct neurological and nervous system damage caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency, however. For this reason, healthy adults should not consume more than 1,000 mcg per day of folic acid from fortified foods and supplements, according to the NIH.
Other Symptoms
Other common symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency include weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, sore or inflamed tongue, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea and weight loss. Prolonged vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause permanent neurological damage, with symptoms such as confusion, depression, memory loss and dementia.
Treatment
Early diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B-12 deficiency can help prevent irreversible damage to the nervous system. Doctors often treat vitamin B-12 deficiency with intramuscular injections to bypass potential absorption problems. High oral doses of vitamin B-12 can also treat B-12 deficiency.
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