Serum zinc and magnesium in type-2 diabetic patients

To assess serum zinc and magnesium level in type-2 diabetic patients and the effect of age, gender, glycemic control and duration of diabetes on these trace elements in comparison with those of control subjects.

Non-interventional case control study.

Department of Medicine, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, from October 2007 to March 2008.

There were 42 diabetic patients and 42 age matched non-diabetic (control) subjects included in this study. Serum zinc, serum magnesium and fasting blood sugar measured among the diabetic and control groups and association of both trace elements were assessed with glycemic status, age, gender and duration of diabetes using SPSS version 16.0 for analysis.

Serum zinc level was significantly lower (mean 2.03 +/- 0.39 mg/dL) in diabetic patients as compared to control subjects (4.84 +/- 4.217 mg/dL, p = < 0.001). No significant difference was found in serum magnesium level with mean of 22.67 +/- 24.5 mg/dL in diabetic patients as compared to controls (18.3 +/- 3.4 mg/dL, p = 0.26).

Serum zinc level was significantly lower in type-2 diabetics, whereas no significant difference was found in serum magnesium level when compared with control subjects. There was no association of age, gender, glycemic status and duration of diabetes on the serum concentration of these trace elements in type-2 diabetic patients.