Abstract

THE CURRENT SCENARIO OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY BY LONG TERM METFORMIN THERAPY IN DIABETES MELLITUS - TYPE 2 PATIENTS

Dr. M. Vijayabaskaran* M. Pharm, Wilma Mary Thomson and Aswathi T

ABSTRACT

Since the history to this present date, Metformin falls under the category of commonly used anti – diabetic drugs in the therapy of type -2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The solidarity statement of American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes recommends Metformin therapy as the first line drug choice with lifestyle modification to treat type-2 DM. The pharmacology of this drug works by lowering, Mainly vitamin B12 is obtained from animal protein, during the metabolism process it is mediated by the action of pepsin and gastric acid, after which it binds to R protein, which is secreted by the salivary gland under hydrolyzed condition, it releases the vitamin B12 which binds to the intrinsic factor (IF) secreted by gastric parietal cells which in result leads to the formation of a complex which gets attached to the specific receptors of mucosa in the terminal ileum region, this stage is usually calcium mediated.

Keywords: There have been some concern over the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.