Trace metals status of diabetic patients resident in Abakaliki, south east, Nigeria

Abstract

Available evidence shows that there are abnormalities in the metabolism of several trace elements in diabetes mellitus which may have contributed to the pathogenesis and progression of the disease. This study is aimed at investigating the levels of selected trace metals (zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium and lead) in the serum of type I and II diabetes mellitus patients. Thirty non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), 30 insulindependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 30 apparently healthy non-diabetic control ubjects participated in the study. After an overnight fast, blood samples of all the subjects were collected and the serum concentrations of glucose and these trace elements were measured. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was determined by glucose oxidase method to confirm the status of the patients and controls while the levels of the trace metals were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean levels of FBS for the diabetic patients were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those of the control group. Similarly, the mean serum concentrations of copper and lead were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the
diabetic patients as compared to the controls. However, the mean values for zinc, calcium and magnesium were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the sera of diabetic patients when compared with the controls. These findings suggest that the altered metabolism of these elements may play a role in the development, pathogenesis and progression of diabetes mellitus.