scholarly journals The vitamin B12 levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on metformin and not on metformin

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
Ramesh Dasarathan ◽  
Rajendran Velayudham ◽  
Haridoss Krishnan ◽  
Senthilkumar S.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the major global public health concerns, metformin is one of the most widely used drugs and considered as first-line therapy for management of T2DM. Vitamin B12 malabsorption is observed in patients on metformin therapy leading to biochemical and clinical vitamin B12 deficiency. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between metformin therapy and development of vitamin B12 deficiency.Methods: Current observational cross sectional study was conducted at Madras medical college and Rajiv Gandhi Government general hospital. Serum vitamin B12 and other blood investigation parameters of T2DM patients, on metformin therapy for long duration (6 months or more than 2 years) were measured and correlated with vitamin B12 levels of T2DM patients not on metformin therapy. Patients were given appropriate treatment and were regularly followed up.Results: Results of the current study findings depicted that significant difference was observed in percent haemoglobin, total blood cells, platelet count, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and albumin values of patients on metformin therapy when compared to patients who were not on metformin therapy. Study findings also revealed that substantial difference in vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in T2DM patients based on the duration of metformin therapy.Conclusions: Current study revealed that, metformin therapy for 2 years or more, can lead to significant vitamin B12 deficiency which is also associated with macrocytosis. It was concluded that longer the duration of metformin therapy, more significant would be vitamin B12 deficiency.

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 200
Author(s):  
S. B. Nayyar ◽  
Manbir Kaur Dhillon ◽  
Sahiba Kukreja

Background: Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine and metabolic disorder, characterized by hyperglycemia. Metformin is the first line pharmacotherapy recommended by ADA. It has been recognized that metformin use is associated with serum vitamin B12 deficiency. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of serum vitamin B12 deficiency among Indian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on metformin therapy compared to those who are not on metformin.Methods: Here, 90 patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus of both sexes were included in this cross-sectional study conducted from January 2018 to August 2019 in SGRDIMSR, Sri Amritsar. They were divided into two groups; Group A of 60 subjects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on metformin therapy >1 year and group B of 30 subjects of type 2 diabetes mellitus not on metformin or had stopped taking metformin 6 months back. Serum vitamin B12 levels were measured using a Chemiluminescence method.  Data was statistically analysed.Results: The serum vitamin B12 levels were 190.02±90.75 pmol/l in group A (metformin users) and 586.9±243.69 pmol/l in group B (not metformin users) (p value=0.002). A significant negative correlation existed between the serum vitamin B12 and duration and dose of metformin use (r꞊ -0.676) and (r -0.855) by using Pearson’s correlation coefficient in group A.Conclusions: Metformin is associated with decrease in serum vitamin B12 levels. Annual screening of serum vitamin B12 is recommended for patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus who are on metformin therapy for longer duration and /or in higher doses.


Diabetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 576-P
Author(s):  
VEERAPPA KOTHIWALE ◽  
NAHUSH D. CHAFEKAR ◽  
PRAKASH BABALICHE ◽  
NIKHIL A. CHOUGULE

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (10) ◽  
pp. 719
Author(s):  
Carlos Tavares Bello ◽  
Ricardo Miguel Capitão ◽  
João Sequeira Duarte ◽  
Jorge Azinheira ◽  
Carlos Vasconcelos

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common disease, affecting up to 13.1% of the Portuguese population. In addition to the known micro and macrovascular complications, drug side effects constitute a major concern, leading to changes in the treatment guidelines, which favor safety over efficacy. Metformin is the first-line pharmacological treatment for most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, it has been associated with vitamin B12 deficiency in up to 30% of treated patients. The authors describe the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in a diabetic population and explore the possible underlying factors.Material and Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Clinical and laboratory data of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients whose vitamin B12 status was evaluated in the last decade (2005 - 2016) were analyzed. Patients with known malabsorptive syndromes or having undergone bariatric surgery were excluded from the study. Statistical analysis of the data was done and the results were considered statistically significant at p values < 0.05.Results: The study included a total of 1007 patients (58% women) with a mean age of 66.4 ± 12.2 years and 11 ± 10.4 years of type 2 diabetes mellitus duration. These patients had a high prevalence of complications: diabetic renal disease 47.7%, neuropathy 9.2%, retinopathy 14.9%, coronary artery disease 8.4%, cerebrovascular disease 10.9%, and peripheral arterial disease 5.5%. Vitamin B12 deficiency (< 174 ng / dL) was present in 21.4% of the population and this subgroup was older (68.4 vs 65.8 years, p = 0.006), had a longer type 2 diabetes mellitus duration (13.35 vs 10.36 years; p = 0.001), higher prevalence of retinopathy (20.9% vs 13.3%; p = 0.005) and thyroid dysfunction (34% vs 23.7%; p = 0.002). Vitamin B12 deficiency was also more frequent in patients treated with metformin (24.7% vs 15.8%; p = 0.017), antiplatelet agents (25.4% vs 16.2%, p < 0.001), and calcium channel blockers (26.8% vs 18.2%; p = 0.001). After adjustment for possible confounders, the variables associated with B12 deficiency were: metformin, hypothyroidism, age and type 2 diabetes mellitus duration.Discussion: Despite the retrospective design, the results report a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in the type 2 diabetic population. This study also demonstrates that the B12 deficiency risk is higher in older people, with longer diabetes mellitus duration, hypothyroidism and treated with metformin.Conclusion: Further studies are needed to identify the risk factors for the B12 deficit. The recognition of these variables will contribute to optimize the screening and prevention of the B12 deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-19
Author(s):  
Viswa Viswa S ◽  
Sivasakthi Sivasakthi K ◽  
Monitta Robinson D ◽  
Hariharan Hariharan V

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-43
Author(s):  
D. Malla ◽  
M.R. Bajracharya ◽  
B.B. Karki ◽  
A.D. Rajouria ◽  
P.S. Shrestha

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is one of the most encountered disease in our out patient department and metformin is the first drug of choice to treat Diabetes mellitus. As metformin is one of the cheapest drug, many patients use these drug for long period of time with consultation and without consultations with doctors. Patients under long term metformin use are not aware of Vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated signs and symptoms. In Nepal due to poverty, lack of education and awareness on diabetes mellitus we doctors find much difficult to explain patients on the consequences of diseases. So I decided to do this study which could be much easier to explain patients on effect of metformin of vitamin B12 levels and the consequences life style modifications and supplement of Vitamin B12 to the patients. Methods: This is a Cross-Sectional Study done in the patients with Type 2 diabetes were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Basic biochemical investigation were sent the lab of the National academy of medical science. Serum B12 assay were done. Vitamin B12 deficiency is defined as values <150pg/ml. Association between vitamin B12 deficiency with duration of metformin therapy, duration of diabetes, with age, sex were done. Results: The mean vitamin B12 level is low as the duration of metformin treatment increases. The sex, age relation with development of vitamin B12 deficiency was not significant. In my study out of 210 patients 107 patients were having severe vitamin B12 deficiency level and 63 patients had a borderline Vitamin B12 deficiency level which shows that the deficiency increases as per longer use of metformin, which shows prevalence of 50.95%. Conclusions: Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients treated with long term metformin. The duration of metformin therapy significantly affects the development of vitamin B12 deficiency. As a treating physician we always need to explain our patients about the side effect of metformin and regular follow up and investigations must be done to early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency to improve the quality of life.


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