Effect of Metformin on Serum Vitamin B12 Levels in Type 2 Libyan Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Metformin is considered a cornerstone in the treatment of diabetes and is the most frequently prescribed first line therapy
for individuals with type 2 diabetes. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of metformin on serum vitamin
B12 levels in Libyan diabetic patients of type 2. This study was carried out in Diabetes and Endocrinology Hospital,
Tripoli, Libya.
The study investigates 101 blood samples from volunteers; 81 blood samples were collected from patients suffered
from type 2 diabetes and 20 healthy (10 males, 10 females). Therapy for 40 patients was metformin (19 males,
21 females), while the other 41 patients receiving other oral hypoglycemic and/or insulin treatment (22 males, 19
females). Serum vitamin B12 evaluation was carried out by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA).
Gender has shown no influence on serum vitamin B12 levels in diabetic patients or healthy people. There is
no major difference in serum vitamin B12 levels between diabetics who received metformin and diabetics who
received non-metformin medicine (oral hypoglycemic and/or insulin). This study has found that HbA1c level was
improved slightly over long duration of treatment. Moreover, this study found that people of 40 to 60 years old
(60% of the total sample) were the most valunerable to diabetes. The highest percentages of the diabetics have
suffered from hypertension followed by another cardiac disease.
The present study has revealed that, there is no significant changes in serum vitamin B12 levels in diabetic patients
received metformin only compared to those who received other hypoglycemic and/or insulin. Hypertension and
cardiac disease are the most abundant concomitant diseases that diabetic patients suffered. Nutrition in Libyan
culture may have effective role in maintaining vitamin B12 in normal level.