Vitamin B12 in metformin-treated diabetic patients: a cross-sectional study in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of vitamin B12 deficiency and the factors associated with serum vitamin B12 levels in a sample of metformin-treated Brazilian diabetic patients. METHOD: Cross-sectional study. RESULTS: 144 patients were included. Serum vitamin B12 levels were low (< 125 pmol/L) in 10 patients (6.9%) and possibly low (125 - 250 pmol/L) in 53 patients (36.8%). Serum vitamin B12 levels were negatively associated with age (B = -3.17; β= -0.171; p = 0.037) and duration of metformin use (B= -33.36; β= -0.161; p = 0.048), and positively associated with the estimated intake of vitamin B12 (B= 67.96; β= 0.249; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in metformin-treated diabetic patients. Older patients, patients in long term treatment with metformin and low vitamin B12 intake are probably more prone to this deficiency.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Nervo,Monique, Lubini,Adriano, Raimundo,Fabiana Viegas, Faulhaber,Gustavo Adolpho Moreira, Leite,Carine, Fischer,Leonardo Moura, Furlanetto,Tania Weber
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Associação Médica Brasileira 2011
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0104-42302011000100015
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