Prevalence and associated factors of vitamin B12 deficiency among Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin therapy: a cross-sectional study
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy , ,
- 2Department of Internal Medicine, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , ,
- 3Department of Pathophysiology, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy , ,
Abstract
Background/objectives: This study examined serum vitamin B12 status and associated clinical factors among Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving metformin.
Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 400 eligible patients treated with metformin for at least 6 months and recruited by non-probability convenience sampling at two hospitals in Thai Binh, Vietnam. The study-defined outcome was serum vitamin B12 <300 pg/mL, comprising absolute deficiency (<200 pg/mL) and marginal status (200 to <300 pg/mL). Associations were examined using univariable analysis and the reported exploratory multivariable logistic regression model.
Results: Overall, 103 participants (25.75%) met the combined threshold: 29 (7.25%) had absolute deficiency and 74 (18.50%) had marginal status. In the reported adjusted model, metformin use >5 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-3.18) and anemia (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.62-7.23) were associated with the outcome. The macrocytosis estimate was highly imprecise.
Conclusions: Low serum vitamin B12 was common in this hospital-based sample. Periodic assessment merits consideration during prolonged metformin therapy, with use >5 years serving as a pragmatic prompt rather than a validated testing threshold. Unexplained anemia or neuropathic symptoms warrant assessment when deficiency is suspected, regardless of treatment duration. The adjusted findings remain exploratory and do not establish causality or model robustness.
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BibTeX
@article{nguyen2026prevalence,
title = {{Prevalence and associated factors of vitamin B12 deficiency among Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin therapy: a cross-sectional study}},
author = {Thi Kim Dung Nguyen and Thi Lan Anh Ke and Van Linh Pham and Xuan Thuy Tran and Thanh Binh Vu},
journal = {Frontiers in clinical diabetes and healthcare},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcdhc.2026.1924740},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719426},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Prevalence and associated factors of vitamin B12 deficiency among Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes receiving metformin therapy: a cross-sectional study
AU - Thi Kim Dung Nguyen
AU - Thi Lan Anh Ke
AU - Van Linh Pham
AU - Xuan Thuy Tran
AU - Thanh Binh Vu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Frontiers in clinical diabetes and healthcare
DO - 10.3389/fcdhc.2026.1924740
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719426
AB - Background/objectives: This study examined serum vitamin B12 status and associated clinical factors among Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving metformin. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study included 400 eligible patients treated with metformin for at least 6 months and recruited by non-probability convenience sampling at two hospitals in Thai Binh, Vietnam. The study-defined outcome was serum vitamin B12 <300 pg/mL, comprising absolute deficiency (<200 pg/mL) and marginal status (200 to <300 pg/mL). Associations were examined using univariable analysis and the reported exploratory multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Overall, 103 participants (25.75%) met the combined threshold: 29 (7.25%) had absolute deficiency and 74 (18.50%) had marginal status. In the reported adjusted model, metformin use >5 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-3.18) and anemia (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.62-7.23) were associated with the outcome. The macrocytosis estimate was highly imprecise. Conclusions: Low serum vitamin B12 was common in this hospital-based sample. Periodic assessment merits consideration during prolonged metformin therapy, with use >5 years serving as a pragmatic prompt rather than a validated testing threshold. Unexplained anemia or neuropathic symptoms warrant assessment when deficiency is suspected, regardless of treatment duration. The adjusted findings remain exploratory and do not establish causality or model robustness.
SN - 2673-6616
ER -