[Effect of mecobalamin on diabetic neuropathies. Beijing Methycobal Clinical Trial Collaborative Group]

To investigate the effect of mecobalamin on diabetic neuropathies.

One hundred and eight patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were involved in a randomized positive-control clinical trial. 62 cases were treated with mecobalamin 500 microg intramuscularly three times a week for four weeks then followed by 500 microg orally three times a day for additional eight weeks. 46 cases were treated with vitamin B(12) in the same way and served as controls.

Twelve weeks after the treatment, spontaneous pain and numbness of limbs were improved by 73% and 75% in the mecobalamin group, which were much higher than those in the controls (36% and 45% respectively). Hypoesthesia, hotness, coldness, oral dryness and dysuria showed better response in the mecobalamin group than in the controls (55% vs 25%, 52% vs 18%, 59% vs 30%, 53% vs 19%, 63% vs 20% respectively). Mecobalamin also benefited nerve reflection and conduction velocity to a certain extent. No obvious side effects were found.

Mecobalamin might be worthy of use as a safe agent in the treatment of diabetic neuropathies.