Tingling hands or feet
Vitamin B12 deficiency in older adults may cause feelings of “pins and needles” in the hands or feet. This happens because the vitamin plays a vital role in your nervous system, and its absence causes people to develop nerve conduction problems or nerve damage.
In the nervous system, vitamin B12 helps create a substance called myelin. Myelin is a shielding coat that protects the nerves and helps them transmit sensations. People who are vitamin B12 deficient might not produce enough myelin to coat their nerves.
Without this, nerves may become damaged. Issues like these are more common in the nerves of the hands and feet, which are called peripheral nerves, leading to a tingling sensation in these parts of the body.
Decreased appetite and weight loss
As a result of digestive issues, including nausea, a vitamin B12 deficiency in older adults may cause them to lose their appetite. And in the long term, this results in unexpected weight loss.
