Vitamin B12 deficiency is a relatively common nutritional deficiency, yet many people may be unaware that they have it because its symptoms can be easy to overlook or mistaken for other health issues. Recognising the possible warning signs is therefore important, as it can prompt you to seek medical advice and get tested if needed.
Dr Kunal Sood, an anaesthesiologist and interventional pain medicine physician, is breaking down the various symptoms that could indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency. In an Instagram video shared on August 22, the physician highlights, “These symptoms do not automatically mean B12 deficiency. But tingling, tongue changes, fatigue, cognitive symptoms, or gait problems occurring together deserve evaluation. Blood testing can confirm deficiency, and early treatment matters because prolonged nerve damage may not fully reverse.”
A smooth, sore tongue
Your tongue should typically have a slightly rough texture, thanks to the tiny papillae that cover its surface and house the taste buds. However, if your tongue feels unusually smooth, sore or tender, it could be a sign of an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency.
Dr Sood explains, “B12 deficiency can cause atrophic glossitis, where the tongue becomes smooth, glossy, red, or painful. Because tongue cells renew rapidly, impaired DNA synthesis can cause the papillae to shrink and the surface to become inflamed.”
Tingling or numbness
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in maintaining healthy nerve function, and a deficiency can affect the peripheral nerves. If you experience unusual numbness or a persistent tingling or ‘pins and needles’ sensation in your hands and feet, it could often be the first sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.
According to Dr Sood, “B12 is required for normal myelin maintenance. Deficiency can damage peripheral nerves, causing persistent tingling, burning, numbness, or reduced sensation, often beginning in the feet. These symptoms can occur even when blood counts remain normal.”
Unexplained fatigue
Vitamin B12 also plays an important role in red blood cell production, meaning a deficiency can lead to anaemia. This may cause symptoms such as unusual fatigue, weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath. While these symptoms can have several causes, they may also signal an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency.
The physician notes, “Low B12 can impair red blood cell production, eventually causing megaloblastic anaemia and reducing oxygen delivery to tissues. This may lead to fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, dizziness, or reduced exercise tolerance.”
Brain fog or memory changes
As part of its role in maintaining a healthy nervous system, vitamin B12 also helps support normal nerve signalling. A deficiency can therefore affect the way the brain and nervous system function, potentially leading to problems with cognitive function, thinking, memory and mood.
Dr Sood explains, “B12-dependent pathways help maintain myelin and normal nerve signaling. Deficiency may cause difficulty concentrating, slower thinking, forgetfulness, confusion, or mood changes, with or without anaemia.”
Balance problems
Another unexpected effect of vitamin B12 deficiency can be balance problems, owing to the vitamin’s important role in maintaining healthy nerve function. A deficiency can affect the spinal cord’s ability to process information about the position of your limbs, potentially making it harder to coordinate your movements.
The physician highlights, “Prolonged deficiency can damage sensory pathways in the spinal cord that carry proprioception, your sense of where your limbs are positioned. This can cause unsteadiness, stumbling, difficulty walking in the dark, or a wide and cautious gait.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Dr Kunal Sood, MD, is a double board-certified physician in Anesthesiology and Interventional Pain Medicine. He did his residency and fellowship in anesthesiology at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a one-year fellowship in interventional pain medicine. He later became the Medical Director of the office in Germantown, Maryland.
