The association of vitamin B12 deficiency and metformin

Authors

  • Pilar Cean Héctor Alejandro Barceló Foundation University Institute, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Claudia Folino Favaloro Foundation, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Vanina Pagotto Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Julio César Bragagnolo Ramos Mejía Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Analía Esther Dagum Argentine Catholic University, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Alejandro Daín Catholic University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
  • Javier Farias Sanatorio Güemes University Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Gustavo Daniel Frechtel Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Claudio González Center for Medical Education and Clinical Research "Norberto Quirno" (CEMIC), Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Susana Salzberg Héctor Alejandro Barceló Foundation University Institute, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Cristian Suárez Cordo Diego Thompson Hospital, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Jorge Alvariñas University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47196/diab.v56i2Sup.529

Keywords:

vitamina b12 deficiency, metformin, diabetes mellitus type 2

Abstract

Metformin is the most widely used oral antidiabetic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the association of the use of this drug with vitamin B12 deficiency has been described.
A review of studies was carried out to find out the evidence of this association and the recommendations for its detection, prevention and treatment. The reported prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in patients treated with metformin ranged from 5.8% to 52% in the different series. Older patients, those who received metformin at high doses and for a longer time, and those who do not consume food of animal origin, are those who are at greater risk of suffering from this deficit.
The determination of vitamin B12 every 1 year is recommended in patients with T2D treated with metformin, and the eventual replacement in case of deficiency. Although there is consensus on the treatment of the deficit, there is still a lack of evidence to make recommendations on a preventive treatment.

Author Biographies

Pilar Cean, Héctor Alejandro Barceló Foundation University Institute, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Magister in Diabetes, Doctoral student in Health Sciences; University Professor, Favaloro Foundation; Secretary of the Pharmacology Committee of the Argentine Society of Diabetes (SAD)

Claudia Folino, Favaloro Foundation, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Specialist in Nutrition and Internal Medicine, Department of Diabetes and Metabolism

Vanina Pagotto, Italian Hospital of Buenos Aires, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Master in Diabetes and Clinical Research, Research Department

Julio César Bragagnolo, Ramos Mejía Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Internal Medicine and Nutrition Specialist, Head of the Nutrition and Diabetes Unit

Analía Esther Dagum, Argentine Catholic University, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Specialist in Medical Clinic and specialized in Diabetes, graduated from the Graduate School of the Argentine Diabetes Society (SAD); University Nephrologist

Alejandro Daín, Catholic University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina

Doctor of Medicine and Surgery; University Professor, National University of Villa María, (UNVM); specialist in Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition; Expert in Diabetes

Javier Farias, Sanatorio Güemes University Hospital, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Associate Professor at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Faculty of Medicine; Director of the Career of Medical Specialists in Endocrinology

Gustavo Daniel Frechtel, Hospital de Clínicas José de San Martín, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Professor of the Chair of Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires (UBA); Head of the Nutrition Division, Independent Clinical Researcher, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET); Head of the Diabetes Laboratory and Metabolism, Institute of Immunology, Genetics and Metabolism (INIGEM)

Claudio González, Center for Medical Education and Clinical Research "Norberto Quirno" (CEMIC), Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Professor of Pharmacology; Director of the Master's Program in Diabetes, Universidad Austral; Professor of Pharmacology, University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

Susana Salzberg, Héctor Alejandro Barceló Foundation University Institute, Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Director of the Department of Clinical Research of the Centennial Institute; Director of the Higher Advanced Diploma in Diabetes, National University of the Northeast-Argentine Diabetes Society; Doctoral student in Health Sciences

Cristian Suárez Cordo, Diego Thompson Hospital, Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology Specialist; Head of the Clinical Department; Diabetes Area Coordinator

Jorge Alvariñas, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Authorized Professor in Nutrition; President of the Pharmacology Committee of the Argentine Diabetes Society (SAD); honorary member of the Latin American Diabetes Association (ALAD); Coordinator of the SAD Pharmacology Committee

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Published

2022-08-01

How to Cite

Cean, P., Folino, C., Pagotto, V., Bragagnolo, J. C., Dagum, A. E., Daín, A., Farias, J., Frechtel, G. D., González, C., Salzberg, S., Suárez Cordo, C., & Alvariñas, J. (2022). The association of vitamin B12 deficiency and metformin. Journal of the Argentine Society of Diabetes, 56(2Sup), 02–08. https://doi.org/10.47196/diab.v56i2Sup.529

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 2Sup (2022): May/Agost 2022

Section

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Copyright (c) 2022 on behalf of the authors. Reproduction rights: Argentine Diabetes Society

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Dirección Nacional de Derecho de Autor, Exp. N° 5.333.129. Instituto Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial, Marca «Revista de la Sociedad Argentina de Diabetes - Asociación Civil» N° de concesión 2.605.405 y N° de disposición 1.404/13.

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