Diabetes Drug Metformin Linked to Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

May 24, 2010, 12:05 pm

According to results from a new study published in the British Medical Journal, metformin, a medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, may cause vitamin B-12 deficiency.

The study examined 390 patients with type 2 diabetes. Metformin was provided to 196 patients, while 194 patients received a placebo. The patients took the medication or the placebo three times daily for more than four years.

Those who took metformin experienced a 19 percent decrease in vitamin B-12 levels, when compared to the patients who took the placebo. The reduction in vitamin B-12 levels became more prominent as treatment with metformin progressed.

"Our study shows that it is reasonable to assume harm will eventually occur in some patients with metformin-induced low vitamin B-12 levels," said study researchers. "Our data provide a strong case for routine assessment of vitamin B-12 levels during long-term treatment with metformin."

The new report suggests that patients who take metformin should have vitamin B-12 levels checked regularly. Symptoms of vitamin B-12 deficiency may include diarrhea, shortness of breath, pale skin, loss of appetite, fatigue, constipation, difficulty concentrating and swollen gums.

Additional information about drugs and drug side effects may be found on DrugWatch.com.

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