Socio-demographic correlates of vitamin B12 insufficiency among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in kano, north-western nigeria

Fakhraddeen Muhammad; Adenike Enikuomehin; Aliyu Ibrahim; Ibrahim Gezawa; Andrew Uloko

doi:10.1530/endoabs.109.P106

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 109 P106 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.109.P106

SFEBES2025 Poster Presentations Metabolism, Obesity and Diabetes (68 abstracts)

Socio-demographic correlates of vitamin B12 insufficiency among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in kano, north-western nigeria

Fakhraddeen Muhammad ^1,2 , Adenike Enikuomehin ³ , Aliyu Ibrahim ⁴ , Ibrahim Gezawa ⁴ & Andrew Uloko ⁴

Author affiliations

¹Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria; ²Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Nigeria; ³University of Medical Sciences, Akure, Nigeria; ⁴Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Background: Vitamin B12 insufficiency is very common among patients with T2DM particularly those on metformin therapy. Low levels could lead to hyperhomocysteinemia, which has been associated with macrovascular complications. It also causes peripheral neuropathy. A substantial number of patients with T2DM in Kano are on metformin therapy. However, no study on low vitamin B₁₂ levels has being conducted in Kano despite being one of the most populous black city in Africa.

Methods: The study was a hospital-based case-control, prospective, analytical, observational study, conducted in a tertiary facility in Kano, Northwestern Nigeria. The study participants were patients attending the adult diabetes clinic at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano. Three hundred participants were recruited, 100 metformin-exposed T2DM, 100 T2DM metformin-naïve and 100 non-diabetic participants. Data was collected using a questionnaire after getting approval from the ethics committee of the health authorities in Kano State. Vitamin B12 was assayed using Beckman access immunoassay system. Vitamin B12 insufficiency was defined as levels less than or equal to 300pg/ml. Statistical analysis of the data was done with the software package SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) for windows version 16.0.

Results: The overall prevalence of vitamin B12 insufficiency was 29%. Prevalence among metformin-exposed T2DM patients was 46%, among metformin naïve T2DM patients was 26% and among normal participants, it was 15% (P < 0.05). Female gender and low monthly income (less than 40USD) were significantly associated with vitamin B12 insufficiency among metformin-exposed T2DM participants (P < 0.05). Among the metformin-naïve participants and apparently normal individuals, there was no such relationship.

Conclusion: Metformin exposure leads to high prevalence of vitamin B12 insufficiency among T2DM patients. Being a female with low socioeconomic status further increases the risk of low vitamin B12 levels. Kano has a substantial number poor people.

Key words: Vitamin B12 insufficiency, Type 2 Diabetes mellitus, Metformin, Kano