[Zinc and diabetes mellitus]

In patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes was frequently found: low blood zinc levels, high zincuria, severe and ubiquitous cellular depletion of zinc, increased basal and after loading blood mineral clearance, and hyperglycaemia due to the reduction of pancreatic insulin secretion and to the reduced biological action of the hormone on liver, as a consequence of chronic zinc deficit. Strong endocellular zinc depletion in diabetics; low insulin secretion; insulin biological action decrease for zinc deficit; IG-I concentration decrease, that happens in this condition; insulin and IGF-I resistance; insulin and IGF-I receptors depletion in diabetics: are strong arguments for zinc pharmacological supplementation, in gastric protective formulation, to avoid gastroenteric problems.