Diabetes Mellitus and Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations: 333 Patients

Abstract

A comparison of the serum B12 concentrations of 333 diabetics and 420 normal individuals was made. The assay method of Skeggs, et al, using Lactobacillus leishmanni was used. No significant difference was found between the diabetics (average 650 [mu][mu]g/ml) and normal individuals (average 660 [mu][mu]g/ml) nor between 45 diabetics with retinopathy (average 613 [mu][mu]g/ml) and 138 without retinopathy (average 693 [mu][mu]g/ml). A slight difference was found between the 225 females (average 780 ([mu][mu]g/ml) and the 108 males (average 650 [mu][mu]g/ml) who participated in the study. It is concluded that the differences previously reported in serum B12 levels between diabetics and normal individuals may reflect vascular damage rather than diabetic state per se.