Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that belongs to the B vitamins group. This vitamin works closely with folic acid. Both nutrients help maintain a healthy nervous system and are involved in the metabolism of sugars, fats and proteins. Vitamin B12 is available in certain foods such as red meat, fish, yogurt, fortified cereals. It can also be found as an over-the-counter supplement. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may benefit from taking vitamin B12, but you should take this supplement under medical supervision.
The Link between B12 and Diabetes
The link between vitamin B12 and diabetes has been recognized and researched since the late 1950s. In a study published in the July 1957 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the research team led by Dr. F. Bacon demonstrated that vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in the metabolism and utilization of sugar by your body. Another finding was that deficiency of vitamin B12 in animal subjects was associated with high glucose levels, and when this deficiency was corrected with vitamin B12 supplements, blood sugar levels were reduced to normal values.
Anti-diabetes Drugs and B12 Deficiency
In a 2009 research study discussed in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, researchers found that 22 percent of diabetics have vitamin B12 deficiency. This shortage was mostly associated with advanced age and metformin, a commonly prescribed anti-diabetes medication. Rather than recommending B12 supplementation, the authors suggested that people with Type 2 diabetes who use metformin would benefit from using daily a multivitamin formula that includes B12.
The National Institutes of Health also notes that up to 30 percent of diabetics who take metformin may have a B12 vitamin deficiency.
Diabetic Neuropathy and B12
Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that affects the nerves and causes pain, tingling and numbness of the hands and feet. Vitamin B12 alone or combined with other B vitamins helps improve diabetic neuropathy, according to a study published in the June 2005 issue of Acta Neurologica Taiwanica. The authors noted improvement in pain and numbness associated with diabetic neuropathy.
Considerations
If you have diabetes, ask your doctor for a blood test to evaluate whether you have low blood levels of vitamin B12. Your doctor can also recommend optimal dosage of this vitamin and other nutrients that may help you control your condition. B12 supplements do not replace and should not be used to replace any anti-diabetes drug you are taking.
References
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; The Relationship of Vitamin B12 to Carbohydrate Metabolism and Diabetes Mellitus ; F.Bacon et al; July, 1957
- Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine; The Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study; M.Philpsen et al; 2009
- Acta Neurologica Taiwanica; Effectiveness of Vitamin B12 on Diabetic Neuropathy: Systematic Review of Clinical Controlled Trials; Y.Sun et al; June, 2005
- National Institute of Health: Vitamin B12
Member Comments