A Review on Effects of Metformin on Vitamin B12 Status

Metformin mostly prescribed first line therapy in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients because it decreases morbidity and mortality. Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient required for optimal hemopoetic, cardiovascular and neuro-cognitive function. Biochemical and clinical vitamin B12 deficiency has been demonstrated to be highly prevalent among diabetes mellitus type 2 patients on metformin. It presents with diverse clinical manifestations ranging from impaired memory, dementia, delirium, peripheral neuropathy, sub acute combined degeneration of the spinal cord, megaloblastic anemia and pancytopenia.
This review article offers a current perspective on vitamin B12 deficiency due to metformin therapy vitamin B12 supplementation in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients.

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