Long-Term Metformin Treatment Linked to Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Long-Term Metformin Treatment Linked to Vitamin B12 Deficiency: "In type 2 diabetes, long-term metformin treatment is linked to vitamin B12 deficiency, according to the results of a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial reported Online First May 20 in the BMJ" "Long term treatment with metformin increases the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, which results in raised homocysteine concentrations," the study authors write.

Diabetics, Vegetarians in Danger of Blindness, Nerve Damage From Medicine and Diet

Vitamin B12 is fittingly known as the energy vitamin, and your body requires it for a number of vital functions. Among them: energy production, blood formation, DNA synthesis, and myelin formation. Myelin is insulation that protects your nerve endings and allows them to communicate with one another.

About 30% of People on Metformin exhibit a deficiency of B12, as Metformin interferes with the body's ability to extract the vitamin from food in the lower intestine.

Additionally, those who take antacid medication for acid reflux, heart burn, etc. also suffer B12 deficiency because of insufficient production of stomach acid, which is needed to break food down to release B12.

Vegetarians too are chronically B12 deficient because vegetables do not contain enough B12, compared to animal products.

Blindness, peripheral neuropathy, heart and mental problems have been linked to B12 deficiency.

Also, as you age, your digestive tract releases less hypocloric acid which means less efficient digestion and subsequent retrieval of B12 and other nutrients from food.