Vitamin B12 deficiency among adult diabetic patients in Uganda: relation to glycaemic control and haemoglobin concentration

Abstract

BackgroundVitamin B12 deficiency is highly prevalent among adult individuals with diabetes yet screening is infrequent in Uganda. There are currently no published data regarding the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors among adult individuals with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at describing the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin B12 deficiency among this patient population in a resource constrained setting in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 280 eligible study participants attending the outpatient diabetic clinic at Mulago national referral and teaching hospital in Kampala, Uganda were enrolled. Their socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire.ResultsThe majority of the study participants were female (68.9 %), with a median age of 50 (IQR: 40–58) years. The mean (SD) serum vitamin B12 levels was 472.0 (16.4) pg/ml. The prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency was 10.7 %. Hemoglobin level < 12 g/dl (AOR 3.38; 95 % CI 1.38–8.32, p value = 0.008) and glycated hemoglobin ≥ 7 % (AOR 3.29; 1.44–7.51, p value = 0.005) were associated with vitamin B12 deficiency.ConclusionsVitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent in approximately 1 in 10 of adult individuals with diabetes in Uganda. We recommend screening for vitamin B12 deficiency among diabetic patients in Uganda especially those with low hemoglobin concentrations and glycated hemoglobin levels ≥ 7 %.

An FGD Report on Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Medical Professionals.

“…In a similar study by Paudel et al 8 in, paraesthesia in the lower limbs was the commonest complaint followed by fatigue and tiredness. Similarly in the study by Akabwai et al 9 in Uganda, the most frequent clinical symptoms were paraesthesias, forgetfulness and tiredness even after light exertion. Others included irritability, gait abnormality and skin hyperpigmentation.…”

Haematological Parameters and Vitamin B12 Levels in Type Ii Diabetic Patients on Metformin- A Prospective Case Control Study

“…The prevalence rates of vitamin B12 deficiency (<191 ng/L) were 27% and 12% in Europeans and Indians respectively, and higher in metformin treated type 2 diabetes patients. 7,8,9,10,11 Table 5 shows the comparison of the present study with with other studies that used similar deficiency cutoff, ranging between 145 -150 pmol/l. 12,13,14 The table reveals studyrelated factors with potential to affect the obtained prevalence, including mean participants age, mean metformin daily dose, study settings, mean metformin duration of use and whether participants with renal impairment were excluded.…”

Dyslipidaemia in a Black African diabetic population: burden, pattern and predictors

“…Despite compelling evidence that dyslipidaemia is highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), there are few published studies about diabetes-dyslipidaemia co-morbidity in Uganda [ 4 – 6 ]. These available studies have limitations like: small sample sizes, being single hospital based, the varying study definitions of dyslipidaemia and did not investigate the independent predictors of dyslipidaemia.…”