Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B-12 is found in some foods. Your body needs this nutrient to make red blood cells, nerve cells and DNA. People who don't get enough vitamin B-12 may have a higher risk of neuropathy and other nervous system issues.

Some medicines may lead to low vitamin B-12 in the body, including:

• Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza), a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes.
• Proton pump inhibitors, which lessen stomach acid. These include lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC), pantoprazole (Protonix) and esomeprazole (Nexium).
• Histamine (H-2) blockers, which also lessen stomach acid. These include famotidine (Pepcid AC) and cimetidine (Tagamet HB).

It's unclear whether taking vitamin B-12 supplements can help treat diabetic neuropathy. Some small studies suggest that these supplements can ease diabetic neuropathy pain and other symptoms. But the supplements might help only if your body is low on vitamin B-12.

In general, a vitamin B-12 supplement is thought to be safe when taken as directed. You also can get vitamin B-12 from foods such as fish, lean red meat and vitamin-fortified breakfast cereals.