Home / Health / Metformin Users: Beware Hidden B12 Deficiency
Metformin Users: Beware Hidden B12 Deficiency
4 Sep
Summary
- Metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency in up to 10% of users.
- Symptoms like tiredness and pins and needles may signal B12 deficiency.
- Deficiency can be treated without stopping metformin if needed.
Pharmacists are alerting millions of individuals prescribed metformin for type 2 diabetes to be vigilant for potential vitamin B12 deficiency. This condition, now classified as a common side effect by the MHRA, can affect up to 10% of users. Symptoms such as fatigue, pins and needles, and numbness can be easily overlooked and attributed to diabetes or aging.
Metformin's mechanism can reduce the body's vitamin B12 absorption, especially with higher doses or prolonged use. The vitamin is essential for healthy blood cells and the nervous system. Symptoms of deficiency include extreme tiredness, altered sensations, a sore tongue, and anemia, alongside neurological issues. These can overlap with diabetes-related symptoms like neuropathy.
Healthcare professionals advise checking vitamin B12 levels when deficiency is suspected, particularly if new neuropathy or anemia develops. Additional risk factors like vegan diets or certain medications also warrant consideration for monitoring. Importantly, B12 deficiency is treatable, often allowing continued metformin use under medical guidance.
