A 40 year old male patient complains of pins and needles sensation in the legs. Patient consumes polished rice as staple food. This patient may be suffering from deficiency of-

Deficiency of vitamin B1 causes beriberi Beri-beri is mostly seen in populations consuming exclusively polished rice as staple food.  The early symptoms of thiamine deficiency are loss of appetite (anorexia), weakness, constipation, nausea,  mental depression, peripheral neuropathy, irritability etc.  Numbness in the legs complaints of 'pins  and needles sensations' are reported Key Concept: Deficiency of vitamin B1 causes beri-beri Pin and needles sensations are characteristic features of beri beri