Long term treatment with metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes and risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency: randomised placebo controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To study the effects of metformin on the incidence of vitamin B-12 deficiency (<150 pmol/l), low concentrations of vitamin B-12 (150-220 pmol/l), and folate and homocysteine concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment with insulin.

DESIGN:

Multicentre randomised placebo controlled trial.

SETTING:

Outpatient clinics of three non-academic hospitals in the Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS:

390 patients with type 2 diabetes receiving treatment with insulin.

INTERVENTION:

850 mg metformin or placebo three times a day for 4.3 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Percentage change in vitamin B-12, folate, and homocysteine concentrations from baseline at 4, 17, 30, 43, and 52 months.

RESULTS:

Compared with placebo, metformin treatment was associated with a mean decrease in vitamin B-12 concentration of -19% (95% confidence interval -24% to -14%; P<0.001) and in folate concentration of -5% (95% CI -10% to -0.4%; P=0.033), and an increase in homocysteine concentration of 5% (95% CI -1% to 11%; P=0.091). After adjustment for body mass index and smoking, no significant effect of metformin on folate concentrations was found. The absolute risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency (<150 pmol/l) at study end was 7.2 percentage points higher in the metformin group than in the placebo group (95% CI 2.3 to 12.1; P=0.004), with a number needed to harm of 13.8 per 4.3 years (95% CI 43.5 to 8.3). The absolute risk of low vitamin B-12 concentration (150-220 pmol/l) at study end was 11.2 percentage points higher in the metformin group (95% CI 4.6 to 17.9; P=0.001), with a number needed to harm of 8.9 per 4.3 years (95% CI 21.7 to 5.6). Patients with vitamin B-12 deficiency at study end had a mean homocysteine level of 23.7 micromol/l (95% CI 18.8 to 30.0 micromol/l), compared with a mean homocysteine level of 18.1 micromol/l (95% CI 16.7 to 19.6 micromol/l; P=0.003) for patients with a low vitamin B-12 concentration and 14.9 micromol/l (95% CI 14.3 to 15.5 micromol/l; P<0.001 compared with vitamin B-12 deficiency; P=0.005 compared with low vitamin B-12) for patients with a normal vitamin B-12 concentration (>220 pmol/l).

CONCLUSIONS:

Long term treatment with metformin increases the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, which results in raised homocysteine concentrations. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is preventable; therefore, our findings suggest that regular measurement of vitamin B-12 concentrations during long term metformin treatment should be strongly considered. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00375388.

• Authors: Jolien de Jager, Adriaan Kooy, Philippe Lehert, Michiel G Wulffelé, Jan van der Kolk, Daniël Bets, Joop Verburg, Ab J M Donker, Coen D A Stehouwer
• Journal: BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (BMJ) Vol. 340 Pg. c2181 (May 20 2010) ISSN: 1756-1833 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20488910 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Hypoglycemic Agents
• Homocysteine
• Metformin
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B 12

Topics

• Aged
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (blood, drug therapy)
• Female
• Folic Acid (metabolism)
• Homocysteine (metabolism)
• Humans
• Hypoglycemic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Long-Term Care
• Male
• Metformin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Middle Aged
• Risk Factors
• Vitamin B 12 (metabolism)
• Vitamin B 12 Deficiency (chemically induced)