Vitamin B12 Deficiency is Common in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Not Taking Metformin and is Nutritional in Nature.
Jawa AA, Akram J, Sultan M, Humayoun A, Raza R.
Jinnah – Allama Iqbal Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Allama Iqbal Medical College/Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, 54550, Pakistan.
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of our study was to estimate the frequency of undiagnosed Vitamin B12 deficiency amongst subjects with type 2 diabetes who were not taking Metformin for at least the past 5 years. The secondary objective was to ascertain if Vitamin B12 deficiency amongst the type 2 diabetes subjects was due to nutritional deficiency or malabsorption. METHODS: Vitamin B12 levels were measured in 44 subjects with diabetes (40-70 years). 21/44 (48%) had low vitamin B12 levels (<200 microgram/dL). 10/21 subjects agreed to enter an intervention phase comprising oral mecobalamin 1500 microgram/day for 3 months. Those subjects who failed to normalize Vitamin B12 levels after oral supplementation alone would be presumed to have Vitamin B12 deficiency due to malabsorption. RESULTS: Almost one-half of type 2 diabetes subjects not taking Metformin had biochemically proven vitamin B12 deficiency. 10/10 subjects had normalized their Vitamin B12 levels after 3 months of oral supplementation. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Vitamin B12 deficiency is common amongst type 2 diabetes subjects and is nutritional in nature. In addition to intensive glycemic control, Vitamin B12 supplementation should also be considered for treatment of diabetic neuropathy. In almost 50% of low vitamin B12 subjects the deficiency was correctable with oral supplementation alone. This indeed is an important finding, as taking oral Vitamin B12 supplementation is easy, convenient and readily accepted by patients. This is a novel finding and stresses the need for aggressive and early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications of Vitamin B12 deficiency.
😀 Do ya think it is related to their nutritional instruction, then … ?