High Prevalence of Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes: Study

A new study published in The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India found high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency among newly diagnosed diabetes patients. The findings highlight the importance of early screening and treatment to prevent complications like neuropathy. The study recommends including vitamin B12 testing in the initial diagnostic evaluation of newly detected diabetes patients, particularly in the Indian population, to improve patient care and reduce the risk of complications.

Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell production, proper nerve function, brain health, and cardiovascular stability. Deficiency can lead to symptoms like fatigue, anemia, nerve damage, memory problems, and peripheral neuropathy which can significantly affect quality of life if left untreated.

While metformin is widely known to reduce vitamin B12 levels over time, most previous research has focused on patients who have already been undergoing treatment. Little attention has been paid to whether vitamin B12 deficiency exists at the time of diabetes diagnosis.

This cross-sectional study from July 2022 to November 2023 was conducted at Command Hospital (Western Command) in Haryana and Civil Hospital in Sirsi, Karnataka. The study examined 326 individuals who were newly diagnosed with either prediabetes or type II diabetes mellitus.

Participants were recruited from both outpatient and inpatient departments to collect detailed information about their dietary habits, substance use, and clinical measurements. Blood tests were performed to measure fasting blood sugar, random blood sugar, HbA1c, and vitamin B12 levels using the chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) method.

Among individuals with prediabetes, 43.4% had vitamin B12 levels below 200 picograms per milliliter, the threshold considered deficient. The proportion was even higher among those newly diagnosed with type II diabetes, reaching 51.9%.

This research observed regional differences in demographics such as average age, gender distribution, and dietary preferences between the two study locations. Significant variations were also observed in fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, and HbA1c levels. The analysis found no meaningful correlation between vitamin B12 levels and factors such as HbA1c, fasting glucose levels, or age.

Individuals following vegetarian diets showed notably higher rates of vitamin B12 deficiency, likely due to the vitamin being primarily found in animal-based foods such as meat, dairy, eggs, and fish. Overall, including vitamin B12 screening as a routine part of the diagnostic protocol could greatly help newly detected diabetes patients.

Source:

Karanth, J. B., Maribashetti, K., & Karanth, G. J. (2026). Exploring Hypovitaminosis B12 in New Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Prediabetes. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 74(2), 62-66. https://doi.org/10.59556/japi.74.1359