Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Metformin is the most widely prescribed medication to treat diabetes (usually type 2 diabetes) in the world. Its effectiveness equals or exceeds many of the other oral medications available and has an excellent safety profile for most individuals. However, for the last ten to fifteen years there has been a question as to whether metformin causes B12 deficiency in those who take the drug for long periods of time.
Several studies and clinical cases have noted suboptimal blood levels of B12 in those who have taken metformin for extended periods. The National Nutrition and Health Examination reviewed the blood work on 1,621 people with diabetes, more than a third of whom were taking metformin, and demonstrated a reduction in serum B12 levels in people who took metformin compared to those who did not.
http://blog.joslin.org/2014/06/should-you-take-b12-supplements-if-you-take-metformin/
Several studies and clinical cases have noted suboptimal blood levels of B12 in those who have taken metformin for extended periods. The National Nutrition and Health Examination reviewed the blood work on 1,621 people with diabetes, more than a third of whom were taking metformin, and demonstrated a reduction in serum B12 levels in people who took metformin compared to those who did not.
http://blog.joslin.org/2014/06/should-you-take-b12-supplements-if-you-take-metformin/