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Endocrine Abstracts (2023) 90 P614 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.90.P614

1Nutrition, Endocrinology, Tunis, Tunisia; 2Nutrition, Biochemistry, Tunis, Tunisia


Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes and the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Several studies have reported the association between metformine-induced vitamin B12 deficiency in type 2 diabetic patients. However, the association between vitamin B12 and DR has only been investigated in few studies.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 123 type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin. One hundred and four patients had a fundus examination: sixty eight patients with DR, 36 patients without DR. Vitamin B12 levels were measured in all participants.

Results: The mean age of the subjects (DR+) was 61.34±6.62 years vs 60.61±6.79 years in patients (DR-). In the patients (DR+) 30.9% were male vs 33.3% (DR). The mean duration of diabetes was 17.72 ±4.1 years in (DR+) and 13.92 ±7.57 years in (DR-) with a significant difference (P=0.01). The mean FBG was 12.53 ± 4.53 mmol/l and 10.58 mmol/l ± 4.53 mmol/l respectively with significant difference (P=0.039). However, there was no difference in mean HbA1c between the 2 groups. Blood levels of vitamin B12 were comparable between patients (DR+) (360.76 ± 165.12) and (DR-) (350.26 ± 219.20). There was no correlation between cobalamin levels and retinopathy (P=0.78). Mean metformin dose was 1908.82 ±606.79 in patients (DR+) and 1984.72±538.36 in patients (DR-). There was no correlation between metformin dose and DR P=0.5. The mean folate level was 7.82±3.19 in patients (RD+) and 8.41±4.25 in patients (DR-). There was no correlation between folate levels and retinopathy.

Conclusion: This study shows that vitamin B12 deficiency does not seem to play a role in DR. Further studies are needed to assess the real impact of vitamin B12 deficiency on DR and to evaluate the Impact of supplementation.

Volume 90

25th European Congress of Endocrinology

Istanbul, Turkey
13 May 2023 - 16 May 2023

European Society of Endocrinology 

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