What Deficiency Causes Hot Feet and Burning Sensations?

October 26, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, deficiencies in B vitamins can cause nerve damage and peripheral neuropathy, which often manifests as a burning sensation in the feet. This discomfort, sometimes known as Grierson-Gopalan syndrome, can be a sign that your body is lacking critical nutrients, particularly B vitamins and magnesium. Addressing the underlying nutritional issue is key to finding relief and preventing long-term nerve damage.

Quick Summary

Nutritional deficiencies, especially in B vitamins and magnesium, can cause hot, burning feet by leading to peripheral neuropathy. Nerve damage from low vitamin B12, B5, or B6, or from conditions tied to deficiencies like alcoholism or diabetes, is a primary culprit. Correcting these shortages through diet or supplements, after a medical diagnosis, is crucial for treatment.

Key Points

B12 Deficiency: Low levels of vitamin B12 are a very common cause of burning feet, as it impairs the nervous system and can cause irreversible nerve damage if left untreated.
Magnesium Shortage: Insufficient magnesium can disrupt nerve function, leading to symptoms like numbness, tingling, and muscle cramps in the extremities, including the feet.
Other B-Vitamin Deficiencies: A lack of other B vitamins, such as B5 (Pantothenic Acid) and B6 (Pyridoxine), can also trigger burning feet syndrome.
Peripheral Neuropathy: Hot, burning feet are often a symptom of peripheral neuropathy, which is nerve damage that can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, diabetes, or alcoholism.
Correct Diagnosis is Key: Because numerous factors can cause this condition, a medical consultation is necessary to identify the specific deficiency or underlying illness for proper treatment.
Treatment Options: Depending on the cause, treatment may include dietary changes to boost nutrient intake, vitamin supplements, or managing a related health condition like diabetes.

B Vitamins and Peripheral Neuropathy

One of the most common nutritional culprits behind hot, burning feet is a deficiency in the B-vitamin family. These vitamins are vital for maintaining proper nerve health and function. When the body doesn't get enough, it can lead to a condition called peripheral neuropathy, which damages the nerves in the extremities, including the feet.

The B-Vitamin Complex at Fault

Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): A B12 deficiency is a well-known cause of peripheral neuropathy and can lead to nerve damage that causes a burning or tingling sensation in the feet and hands. The body needs B12 to produce myelin, the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers. When myelin is damaged, nerve signals are disrupted, leading to the sensation of burning.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): This deficiency has long been linked to 'burning feet syndrome'. It can cause numbness, headaches, and fatigue in addition to the burning sensation in the feet.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Both a deficiency and an excess of vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy. It is crucial for nerve function, and imbalances can trigger painful, hot feet.
Vitamin B9 (Folate): Alcohol abuse, which can cause burning feet, also limits folate absorption. This, along with other B-vitamin deficiencies, can exacerbate nerve issues.

Magnesium and Electrolyte Imbalance

Magnesium plays a critical role in nerve and muscle function, and low levels can cause neurological symptoms. A deficiency, also known as hypomagnesemia, can lead to numbness, tingling, and muscle cramps in the legs and hands. Since magnesium helps conduct nerve impulses and regulate muscle contractions, a shortage can disrupt these functions and contribute to a hot, tingling sensation in the feet.

Magnesium's Role in Nerve Health

Magnesium works with calcium and potassium to ensure proper nerve transmission. When magnesium levels are low, it can lead to low potassium and calcium levels, further disrupting nerve and muscle function. Addressing a magnesium deficiency can help stabilize these essential electrolytes and alleviate nerve-related symptoms.

Comparison of Key Deficiencies Causing Hot Feet


Deficiency	Key Role in the Body	How it Causes Hot Feet	Associated Symptoms
Vitamin B12	Myelin sheath production for nerves	Damages nerve sheaths, disrupting signals	Numbness, tingling, balance issues, fatigue, memory loss
Vitamin B5	Metabolism, hormone production	Linked directly to burning feet syndrome	Numbness, headache, fatigue, irritability
Vitamin B6	Neurotransmitter production	Imbalance (both low and high) can cause neuropathy	Neurological symptoms, skin disorders
Magnesium	Nerve impulse conduction, muscle function	Disrupts nerve signaling and causes cramping	Numbness, tingling, muscle spasms, fatigue
Iron	Oxygen transport, restless legs	Contributes to restless legs syndrome (RLS) symptoms	Tingling, burning, and crawling sensations in legs and feet

Other Potential Causes

While nutritional deficiencies are a significant cause, other medical conditions can also lead to burning feet.

Diabetic Neuropathy: High blood sugar levels from uncontrolled diabetes can damage nerve endings over time, causing peripheral neuropathy.
Alcohol Use Disorder: Excessive alcohol consumption can be toxic to nerve tissue and can cause nutritional deficiencies that lead to neuropathy.
Chronic Kidney Disease: This can cause toxins to build up in the body, which can damage nerves and trigger burning sensations.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Compression of the posterior tibial nerve in the ankle can lead to burning, tingling, and pain in the feet.
Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid can lead to fluid retention, swelling, and nerve pressure in the feet, causing a burning sensation.

Conclusion

For those experiencing hot, burning feet, investigating potential nutritional deficiencies is a crucial first step. Deficiencies in B vitamins, particularly B12, and magnesium are common culprits that damage nerve function and lead to peripheral neuropathy. However, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis, as other medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, or nerve compression can also be responsible. A doctor can order blood tests to check vitamin levels and rule out other causes, helping to determine the most effective treatment plan, which may include dietary changes, supplements, or managing an underlying health issue. For more information on nerve health and neuropathy, you can review resources like those provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

How to Relieve Burning Feet

If a nutritional deficiency is confirmed, a doctor will recommend the appropriate course of action, which can include both dietary and supplemental interventions.

Dietary Adjustments: Consuming a diet rich in B vitamins (meat, fish, eggs, leafy greens) and magnesium (nuts, seeds, legumes) is vital.
Supplements: In cases of significant deficiency, supplements for vitamin B12 or magnesium may be necessary.
Foot Soaks: Soaking feet in cool water or Epsom salt can provide temporary relief from the heat and soreness.
Address Underlying Conditions: For conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, managing the primary illness is critical for controlling nerve symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

A deficiency in vitamin B12 is a very common and well-documented cause of burning feet and peripheral neuropathy. Deficiencies in vitamins B5, B1, and B6 can also contribute to this condition.

Yes, a magnesium deficiency can cause neurological symptoms, including numbness, tingling, and muscle spasms in the legs and hands, which can be perceived as hot feet or a burning sensation.

Vitamin deficiencies, especially B vitamins, can lead to peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage. This damage can cause nerves to misfire, sending false pain or heat signals to the brain that result in a burning sensation.

Common risk factors include chronic alcoholism, poor dietary habits (particularly vegetarian or vegan diets without supplementation for B12), malabsorption disorders like Crohn's disease, and older age.

Yes, other common causes include diabetic neuropathy, chronic kidney disease, hypothyroidism, tarsal tunnel syndrome, alcoholism, and certain medications.

A healthcare provider will typically perform a physical exam, review your medical history and lifestyle, and order blood tests to check your vitamin B12 and other vitamin levels.

The best treatment is to address the underlying deficiency. This involves supplementing the missing nutrients, often with dietary changes or vitamin supplements, under a doctor's supervision. Topical creams and cool foot soaks can also provide symptomatic relief.