Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is now affecting many in the workforce: it has major and deleterious impact on both individual and national productivity. Vitamin B12 deficiency results in the disruption of methylation process and accumulation of intracellular and serum homocysteine which is toxic to the neurones and vascular endothelium. The main objective of the present research is to assess and compare levels of serum vitamin B12 in patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with the controls.

A cross sectional study was conducted jointly by the Department of Biochemistry and Medicine, Govt. Medical College Jammu, involving 50 patients with diagnosed T2DM in the age group of 40-80 years of either gender attending the OPD of Medicine Department and 50 age and gender matched randomly selected healthy controls. Patients with T1DM, thyroid disorders, haemolytic anemia, hemoglobin variants, pregnancy, hepatic and infectious diseases were excluded from the study. Vitamin B12 was estimated in serum using Chemiluminiscent microparticle intrinsic factor technology, referred to as chemiflex. Glucose was measured by Hexokinase method.

The mean of vitamin B12 in controls was in normal value, but significantly low in cases. Vitamin B12 deficiency was significantly associated with increasing age, increased duration of diabetes. Even the difference in the mean values of FPG and HbA1C in controls and study cases were significant. Vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to clinically significant complications, highlighting the importance of regular screening of B12 levels for a better diagnostic procedure and treatment of T2DM.

Keywords: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus , Vitamin B12, Glycated Hemoglobin.