Serum Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Levels in Diabetic Patients Under Metformin treatment Compared with Treatment with Insulin and other Glucose-Lowering Medications

This study was designed to compare the serum folic acid and vitamin B12 levels in type 2 diabetes patients among ptients being under treatment with metformin with those being treated with other antidiabetic drugs or insulin. Subjects and This epidemiological analytical (case- control study) was carried out on 40 diabetic patients reffered to Golestan hospital diabetes clinic of Ahvaz in 2012-2013. Patients who were treated with metformin for more than one year were considered as case group (n=20، 14 female and 6 male، aged 53. 75±9. 32 years) and patients who were treated with other anti-diabetic drugs and insulin were considered as control group. A fasting blood sample was collected from both patient groups and the level of serum folic acid and vitmain B12 was measured. Correlaton between serum folic acid and vitmain B12 with age، sex، disease duration، dosage of metformin intake and BMI were statitically analysed. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 17. No significant differences in B12 and folic acid serum levels between the two groups. Significant relationship was not shown between age and folic acid (P=0. 47)، vitamin B12 (P=0. 76) serum levels as well as disease duration and body mass index (BMI). The mean serum folic acid and vitamin B12 in men and women of case group and control group showed no significant differences (P=0. 7 and 0. 07 respectively). In this study، there was no significant correlation between metformin consumption and serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. Age، disease duration، duration of metformin consumption، metformin dosage intake and BMI had no effect on serum vitamin B12 and folic acid levels.