Estimated blood levels of zinc and copper among type-2 diabetic patients and their relationship to insulin resistance

Abstract

Disturbances in the level of trace elements might be inducing "insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)", development, and even complications of diabetes.

Objective: A case-control study was carried out for measurements of serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations in type 2 diabetic patients (DM2) and compare them with healthy subjects, as well as to estimate their association with insulin resistance.

Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out in Alfardous Clinic in Brack-Alshati. It involved one hundred (100) subjects, 60 diabetic subjects and 40 healthy controls. their age from 40 to 60 years. Complete blood count (CBC), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum insulin, Cu, and Zn levels were assessed calorimetrically. Independent two-sample t-test and Pearson’s correlation had been used to assess the statistical significance.

Results: The data confirmed that DM2 patients were characterized by significantly elevated Cu, Cu /Zn ratio serum levels, HbA1c, FBG, serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and white blood cells (WBC). Additionally, a significant decline in HOMA-β, MCV, and MCH compared with the control group (p = 0.000). On the other hand; there were no statistical differences in the serum Zn level between the two groups. HbA1c, FBS, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels were positively correlated with serum copper, while they had no significant correlation with serum zinc.

The study found that, serum zinc showed no association with insulin resistance in diabetic patients, while serum copper increased with this condition.