Dr. Alex Jimenez, El Paso's Chiropractor
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Vitamin B Deficiency Along With Metformin

Part of understanding the holistic approach to repairing chronic health disorders is researching and learning about the traditional ways to treat these chronic health disorders as well. Many patients who have type 2 diabetes often suffer from headaches, fatigue, and overall discomfort. Many patients who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are put on a medication known as metformin to help reduce blood glucose levels. In a study done, metformin showed to be linked to vitamin B12 deficiency. Part of creating a holistic healing plan for patients who have type 2 diabetes is to use natural supplements to avoid medications and other deficiencies such as this.

After a long-term trial was performed, it had been concluded that type 2 diabetics who had routinely ingested metformin showed a vitamin B12  deficiency. To offset this effect, a vitamin supplement may be taken along with monitoring from the prescribing physician. Another method patients taking metformin may benefit from is approaching their diabetes management from a functional approach. A functional approach will help their body naturally repair itself with the end goal of stopping metformin medication if approved by their healthcare provider.

The study performed by Coen Stehouwer, MD, of Maastricht University in the Netherlands and colleagues online in BMJ noted that with 4.3 years of treatment in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the hazard ratio for developing vitamin B12 deficiency while on metformin was 5.5 relative to placebo (95% CI 1.6 to 19.1). One of the main takeaways the researchers concluded was that the deficiency persists and grows over time.  Shorter studies showing slight relation to vitamin B12 deficiency and metformin had been previously recorded, but this is the first long-term study that truly reveals the association.

Throughout this study, they analyzed data on 390 type 2 diabetes patients randomized to metformin or placebo in a study named HOME. This study was designed to examine the effects of metformin on metabolic parameters and micro- and macrovascular diabetic complications.

To being, the patients in the study were initially treated with insulin and no other medications during a 12-week start-up phase. Metformin or placebo was then added to insulin treatment for 52 months.

The average patients chosen for this study had been on insulin treatment to manage their diabetes for around 7 years and had been diabetic for 13 years with a hemoglobin level at 7.9%. The typical age for participants of this study was middle age around 61.

Calculating the data from the 52-month study concluded that although the vitamin B12 levels declined throughout the entire study, the most significant drop occurred during the first few months.

From a mean of about 355 pmol/L at the end of the run-in phase, B12 levels dropped to about 305 pmol/L after four months, and from there to 280 pmol/L over the next four years.

The study also revealed that falling vitamin B12 levels were associated with increased serum homocysteine. When last measured, patients with a deficiency (defined as less than 150 pmol/L) had mean homocysteine levels of 23.7 ?mol/L versus 18.1 ?mol/L among those with vitamin B12 levels of 150 pmol/L, classified as low, and 14.9 ?mol/L for those with normal vitamin B12.

These differences were proven statistically significant, with P=0.003 for deficient versus low, and P=0.005 for low versus normal.

It should be noted that the researchers indicated there was no significant relationship between homocysteine levels and treatment assignments in the trial, but that the “relatively low incidence of vitamin B12 deficiency” probably accounted for the finding.

“As treatment with metformin continues, however, we expect that vitamin B12 levels will continue to decrease, making increases in homocysteine concentrations inevitable in time,” the researchers added.

In conclusion, these associations remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, insulin dose, smoking status, duration of diabetes, and previous metformin treatment.

Citing earlier research, Stehouwer and colleagues wrote that metformin appears to reduce B12 levels by inhibiting dietary absorption in the intestine. Calcium supplements can reverse the malabsorption.

Stehouwer and colleagues argued that the study results “provide a strong case for routine assessment of vitamin B-12 levels during long-term treatment with metformin.”

The HOME study was funded by Altana, Lifescan, Merck Santé, Merck Sharp & Dohme, and Novo Nordisk.

Study authors and editorialists declared they had no potential conflicts of interest.

Prescription medications are known to have a long list of side effects associated with drug therapy. According to this study, a downside of metformin is the result of a vitamin B deficiency. If possible, I encourage using a functional approach to heal the body to avoid side effects such as these and allow the body to naturally repair. – Kenna Vaughn, Senior Health Coach  

 

 

References:

De Jager J, et al “Long term treatment with metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes and risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency: randomised placebo controlled trial” BMJ 2010; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2181.

Gever, John. “Keeping Tabs on Vitamin B Advised with Metformin.” MedPage Today, MedpageToday, 21 May 2010, www.medpagetoday.org/endocrinology/diabetes/20220?utm_content=GroupCL&impressionId=1274507113245&userid=69947&vpass=1.

Vidal-Alaball J, et al “Reduced serum vitamin B-12 in patients taking metformin” BMJ 2010; DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c2198.

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, and nervous health issues or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health protocols to treat injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. To further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900

 

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Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Vitamin B Deficiency Along With Metformin" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

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Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

phone: 915-850-0900

Licensed in Texas & New Mexico *

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CIFM, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Post Disclaimer

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Turkey 101: All You Need to Know About Nutrition & Benefits" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card