iHealthCast > Physicians<br>& Specialists > Heartbeats Blog - <span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: bold;">Diabetes is on the Rampage<br> Is a Diabetes Drug you May be Taking Putting you at Risk..?</span>

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Posted by: Dr. Chris Meletis, ND	6/7/2010 8:59 AM
A very commonly prescribed drug known as Metformin or GlucoPhage, has been getting lots of scrutiny recently because it may actually increase the risk of diabetic side-effects. Yet, a drug that helps control blood sugars may indirectly increase the risk of B12 deficiency nerve damage and altered cellular performance. How could this be? Well lets take a look at a 2010 study reported in the British Medical Journal (sometimes the truth can be as shocking as fiction). I am just reporting the finding, I will let you decide for yourself and your loved ones. Please Note: I am not suggesting discontinuing this medication, but rather strongly encouraging a frank discussion with your prescribing medical provider about taking a good vitamin B Multivitamin Complex, that is rich in B12. The study was a multi-centered, randomized study that was placebo controlled. Meaning in simple English, the diabetic patients on Metformin were gathered from several locations, were randomly put into two groups, and then some received the drug Metformin, and others simply received a sugar pill. They tracked the B12 levels and also homocysteine levels (a substance in the body that can damage the heart, brain and bones) that can become elevated if B12 is low. A full 390 patients with type 2 diabetes were either given 850 mg of Metformin or the placebo for 4.3 years. So What Happened? Compared with placebo, Metformin treatment was associated with a mean decrease in vitamin B-12 concentration of 19 percent and a increase of the damaging substance called homocysteine of 5%. In short all the numbers went in the wrong direction for those taking Metformin. The absolute risk of low vitamin B-12 concentration (150-220 pmol/l) at the end of the was 11.2% higher in the Metformin group with a "pre-defined number needed to harm of 8.9 per 4.3 years". This is not good news! The researchers concluded that long term treatment with Metformin increases the risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency, which results in raised homocysteine concentrations. What do I have to say? It is simple... when taking Metformin, strongly consider taking a high quality B12/B-Complex daily. On a side note, sufficient B vitamins are also needed for optimal blood sugar metabolism as well.
Copyright ©2010 Dr. Chris Meletis, ND
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