“There’s an extract of French lilac (Galega officinalis) that’s been attracting a lot of attention lately in the field of oncology. Perhaps the news of yet another “natural” cancer fighting compound is no longer a surprise to readers of this site. But would it surprise you to discover that the particular substance I’m referring to is actually a prescription medication that’s generally used to help manage diabetes? The drug in question is metformin. It’s a medication that was developed over 50 years ago and is often used to combat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It also supports cardiovascular health and promotes weight loss/maintenance in those with blood sugar abnormalities and metabolic disorders. It’s estimated that over 35,000,000 prescriptions for metformin were written in 2008 alone. This figure is likely to increase in the future for a few very important reasons. It’s cheaper and more effective than many of the newer medications in its class, and this is one drug that may actually help save lives.

A real concern about long term metformin use is its impact on vitamin B12 concentrations. Earlier this year, a presentation at the American Diabetes Association’s 69th Annual Scientific Sessions reported that as many as 40% of metformin users exhibited some degree of vitamin B12 deficiency. Perhaps even more importantly, 77% of metformin patients had been diagnosed with a form of painful nerve damage known as peripheral neuropathy, which may partially be a consequence of a lack of this vital nutrient. Therefore, anyone who is using this medication ought to be regularly screened to rule out insufficient levels of B12. The good news is that supplementing with B-vitamins is easy, inexpensive and safe. Emerging evidence also suggests that maintaining adequate B-viamin status (particularly vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid) may result in even greater cardiovascular protection for metformin users.div>