The frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with metformin for at least five years

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in Romanian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), treated with metformin for at least five years. The study group included 39 T2DM patients and 33 control subjects. A complete blood count was performed and serum vitamin B12 concentration was determined. The T2DM patients on metformin had statistically significant lower levels of B12 vitamin, adjusted for age and gender, and of haemoglobin compared to control subjects. Older patients, as well as male patients, had statistically significant lower B12 vitamin levels. No statistically significant association was found between the vitamin B12 level and the duration of metformin treatment. These results suggest the importance of assessing vitamin B12 status in T2DM patients treated with metformin on long term.