
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the burden of micronutrient deficiencies among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), analyzing 132 studies with 52,501 participants. The pooled prevalence of multiple micronutrient deficiencies (including vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes) was 45.30%, with significant variations across geographic regions and demographic groups. Vitamin D deficiency was the most prevalent (60.45%), followed by magnesium (41.95%) and vitamin B12 deficiencies, particularly among patients on metformin therapy (28.72%). Women with T2D were more likely to experience micronutrient deficiencies (48.62%) compared to men (42.53%). The study also found that 40% of patients with diabetic complications had micronutrient deficiencies, underscoring the potential role of these deficiencies in disease progression and complications.
The research highlights the global burden of micronutrient deficiencies in T2D patients, emphasizing their potential impact on glucose metabolism, insulin signaling, and overall disease management. However, the findings are limited by the predominance of hospital-based, cross-sectional studies, which introduce selection bias and limit generalizability to the broader population. Additionally, the lack of community-based studies and inconsistent diagnostic criteria for micronutrient deficiencies across studies pose challenges for establishing causality and definitive prevalence estimates.
Despite these limitations, the study provides critical insights into the high prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies in T2D patients, calling for further research, including population-based and longitudinal studies, to better understand the relationship between micronutrient status and diabetes. The findings also suggest the need for healthcare practitioners and policymakers to consider micronutrient supplementation as part of comprehensive T2D management strategies to mitigate complications and improve patient outcomes. Overall, this review serves as a foundational resource for future research and interventions aimed at addressing the hidden burden of micronutrient deficiencies in diabetes care.
Source: nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2025/01/03/bmjnph-2024-000950