Trace Mineral Status Related to Levels of Glycated Hemoglobin of Type 2 Diabetic Subjects in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is of major and increasing global public health importance. People with diabetes are at increased risk of premature disability and death associated with vascular, renal, retinal, and neuropathic complications. Direct association of trace elements in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes has been observed in many research studies. An alteration in the metabolism of these minerals has been demonstrated in diabetes. The aim of the present study was to investigate zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn) and magnesium (Mg) levels in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes and age-matched healthy subjects and also to assess the association between these elements and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c ). The study population consisted of 55 type 2 diabetic patients and 55 age-matched non-diabetic healthy subjects within the age range of 45–65 years. In this study, we found significantly higher Cu levels (P < 0.001), lower Zn levels (P < 0.05), and also lower Cr, Mn, Mg levels (P < 0.05) in patients with DM in comparison with healthy subjects. Statistical analysis showed a positive correlation between serum levels of Cu and Zn in the group of healthy subjects (r = 0.97, P < 0.0001). In contrast, we found a negative correlation between these metals (r = 0.59, P < 0.0001 ) in patients with DM. We also found significant higher levels of HbA1c (P < 0.001) in the DM group than in the healthy group. Positive correlations between levels of HbA1c and Cu (r = 0.71, P < 0.001) as well as Cr (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001) and negative correlations between levels of HbA1c and Zn (r = 0.65, P < 0.001) and also Mg (r =.52, P < 0.001) in the DM group were obtained. Patients with DM had altered metabolism of Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, and Mg, and this may be related to increased values of glycated hemoglobin. We concluded that imbalance in the levels of studied metals may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DM.