NUTRITION-RELATED VITAMIN B^sub 12^ DEFICIENCY IN PATIENTS IN PAKISTAN WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS NOT TAKING METFORMIN

The objectives of this study is to estimate the frequency of undiagnosed vitamin B^sub 12^ deficiency among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had not taken metformin during at least the prior 5 years and to ascertain whether vitamin B^sub 12^ deficiency among the patients with type 2 diabetes was due to nutritional deficiency or malabsorption. Serum vitamin B^sub 12^ levels were measured in 44 subjects with diabetes and a mean age of 51 years old, 21 of whom had low levels. Almost half of the subjects with type 2 diabetes not taking metformin had biochemically proven vitamin B^sub 12^ deficiency. The researchers conclude that vitamin B^sub 12^ deficiency is common among patients with type 2 diabetes and was related to nutrition in the study group. This finding highlights the need for aggressive and early diagnosis and treatment to avoid complications of vitamin B^sub 12^ deficiency.