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Study: Prevalence of Micronutrient Deficiencies in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
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Key Takeaways
- Micronutrient deficiencies in T2D patients impact glucose metabolism and insulin signaling, with nearly half exhibiting multiple deficiencies.
- Vitamin D deficiency is most prevalent among T2D patients, followed by magnesium and vitamin B12 deficiencies.
Pharmacists can address micronutrient deficiencies, aiding those with type 2 diabetes as they face a higher risk.
Low levels of vitamins and minerals that are crucial for healthy bodily function are common among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to findings published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. Micronutrient deficiencies are reported to impact glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathways, which could be linked to the beginning or progression of T2D.1,2
raw vegetables with blood glucose meter, syringe, lancet and stethoscope on desk, diabetes healthy diet concept - Image credit: neirfy | stock.adobe.com
“The treatment of T2D often tends to focus on energy metabolism and macronutrients, but the identification of a higher prevalence of specific micronutrient deficiencies in those affected is a reminder that optimizing overall nutrition should always be a priority,” Shane McAuliffe, visiting senior academic associate, NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, said in a news release.1
To assess the burden of micronutrient deficiencies among individuals with T2D, researchers created a systemic review and meta-analysis that estimated the pooled prevalence of deficiencies using data from previously conducted studies. Studies were found through a comprehensive search using Embase, ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, LILACS, and the grey literature. A total of 132 studies were included, involving 52,501 individuals. All included studies were hospital-based except for 3.1,2
The evaluation included deficiencies in minerals and electrolytes, specifically zinc, chromium, iron, copper, fluoride, selenium, iodine, manganese, calcium, phosphorus, molybdenum, potassium, folic acid, magnesium, and sodium, and in vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C, D, E, and K.1
“This systematic review exemplifies the double burden of malnutrition in action, whereby nutritional deficiencies and diet-related non-communicable diseases, such as T2D, co-exist,” McAuliffe said in a news release.1
Results from the study demonstrated that nearly half of individuals with T2D exhibit multiple micronutrient deficiencies, with a pooled prevalence of 45.30% (95% CI 40.35% to 50.30%). The prevalence of these micronutrient deficiencies varied across different World Health Organization regions. Furthermore, about 40% of subjects with diabetic complications also presented with micronutrient deficiencies.2
Further results found that women were more likely to be impacted by micronutrient deficiencies compared with men, at around 49% and the highest among women in the US at 54%.1,2
Additionally, vitamin D deficiency was the most common among individuals with T2D, with a prevalence as high as 60.45% (95% CI 55%-65%). A magnesium deficiency was the next highest (41.95%; 95% CI 27%-56%), followed by vitamin B12 among individuals with T2D that were on metformin (28.72%; 95% CI 21.08%-36.37%).1,2
“The findings should help to focus research and policy initiatives aimed at furthering our understanding of the causes and effects of these deficiencies and the potential for targeted and tailored interventions,” McAuliffe said in a news release.1
The study authors noted that the analysis primarily relied on hospital-based, cross-sectional studies, which limits the generalizability of the findings to the broader population. Although the review was comprehensive, there remains a possibility that certain relevant studies were missed, potentially impacting the overall results and emphasizing limitations in the study.1
As the first point of care with access to patients’ current and previous medications, pharmacists can address micronutrient deficiencies, aiding those with T2D as they face a higher risk. Pharmacists can provide personalized assessments and pinpoint potential drug-nutrient interactions to appropriately recommend needed supplements or dietary changes.3
