PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES ON METFORMIN IN MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Gayathri Divi Krishnan Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Malaysia
  • Miza Hiryanti Zakria Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Malaysia
  • Mohamed Badrulnizam Bin Long Bidin Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Norhayati Yahaya Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Malaysia

Keywords:

metformin, vitamin B12, deficiency

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
It has been proven that vitamin B12 deficiency is more common among metformin treated subjects with a variable prevalence worldwide, and this can lead to an array clinical sequelae. We evaluated the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among metformin treated patients with type 2 diabetes in Malaysia.

METHODOLOGY
This is a cross-sectional study involving 205 patients from a Malaysian district aged 18 years old and above who have been on metformin for at least 6 consecutive preceding months. Medical history was obtained via a standardized questionnaire and all subjects had blood drawn for serum vitamin B12 levels.

RESULTS
Vitamin B12 deficiency was defined as serum B12 level ≤300 pg/ml (221 pmol/L). The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among metformin treated patients with type 2 diabetes was 28.3% (n=58) and the mean vitamin B12 level was 457±231 pg/ml. A longer duration of diabetes and metformin use for more than 5 years were associated with an increased risk for vitamin B12 deficiency (p<0.05). The non-Malay population were at a higher risk for metformin associated vitamin B12 deficiency (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION
Our study suggests that patients with type 2 diabetes on metformin should be screened for vitamin B12 deficiency. This is especially so among patients with a longer duration of diabetes and those on metformin for more than five years. Also, it should be kept in mind that the non-Malay population with diabetes in Malaysia seem to be at increased risk for vitamin B12 deficiency compared to their Malay counterparts.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Gayathri Divi Krishnan, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Malaysia

Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II, Malaysia

References

*

Downloads

Published

2022-05-05

How to Cite

Krishnan, G. D., Zakria, M. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., Bidin, M. B. B. L., & Yahaya, N. (2022). PREVALENCE OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES ON METFORMIN IN MALAYSIA. Journal of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies, 34(2), 15. Retrieved from https://asean-endocrinejournal.org/index.php/JAFES/article/view/1867

Issue

Section

Abstracts of Original Articles | Prediabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, Hypoglycemia

Most read articles by the same author(s)