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Delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) activity in diabetes and hypothyroidism
João B Souza1, João B T Rocha, Cristina W Nogueira
1Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil.
Objectives:
This study analyzed the influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and primary hypothyroidism on the activity of the delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) in human blood.
Design And Methods:
Delta-ALA-D enzyme activity was determined in normal (healthy) people (n=29), compensated (DMC, n=11) and non-compensated diabetic patients (NDMC, n=23), and in patients with compensated (CH, n=19) and non-compensated primary hypothyroidism (NCH, n=10). The determination of lead, copper, zinc and magnesium was performed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.
Results:
This study shows that delta-ALA-D activity was decreased (P<0.05) in situations associated to hyperglycemia maintained for long periods (HbA1c high). Another finding of this study suggests that states of hypofunction of the thyroid gland, when non-compensated, increase the activity of delta-ALA-D (P<0.001). In addition, copper was elevated in HNC, zinc was diminished in DMC, HC and HNC, and magnesium was diminished in the HNC group.
Conclusion:
This result points out that there is a correlation among diabetes, hypothyroidism and delta-ALA-D activity.
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