What Vitamin Deficiencies Cause Tremors?

Vitamins are essential chemical compounds required for numerous biological processes in the body. Most vitamins can be found in different foods, and eating a healthy diet including a variety of fruits and vegetables is your best bet to consuming all of the essential vitamins. However, sometimes eating a healthy diet does not provide all the essential vitamins, leading to deficiencies that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including tremors. If you suspect you have a vitamin deficiency, consult your doctor.

A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to several neurological problems. Particularly in infants, a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to tremors, often in the face. Other neurological problems include tremors in the legs, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, loss of reflexes, loss of balance and muscle weakness. Confusion, memory loss, depression and dementia also can develop. To avoid vitamin B12 deficiency, you can increase your intake of foods rich in vitamin B12, including most types of meat, seafood, dairy and eggs.

Vitamin B1 deficiency often leads to a condition known as beriberi, which can cause several neurological symptoms, including tremors. Additional symptoms of beriberi include nerve damage, muscle weakness or pain, and numbness in the hands, feet, arms or legs. A deficiency in vitamin B1 also can cause confusion, memory loss, loss of coordination and dementia. Eating foods rich in vitamin B1, such as whole grains, yeast and pork, can help prevent a vitamin B1 deficiency.

Vitamin E is another vitamin for which a deficiency can cause tremors. Additional neurological symptoms also might result from vitamin E deficiency, including loss of coordination and balance, loss of reflexes, numbness in the limbs, difficulty speaking and muscle weakness. Vision loss also can result from degeneration of the retina. Fortified breakfast cereals, nuts and vegetables are good sources of vitamin E.

Vitamin B6 also is involved in several processes in the nervous system, meaning a deficiency sometimes causes tremors. Vitamin B6 is found in many foods, and vitamin B6 deficiency in developed countries is extremely rare. Additional symptoms include convulsions, confusion and depression. If you are at risk of a vitamin B6 deficiency, foods such as beans, poultry, meat, fish, fortified breakfast cereals and certain fruits and vegetables contain high levels of vitamin B6.