Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Insulin Resistance, Lipid Profile, BMI in Type II Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Background: Zinc is one of the most important essential trace metals in human nutrition and lifestyle with special role in diabetic patients mainly due to its involvement in insulin production, storage and secretion.-Objectives: to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on changing insulin resistance ,modifying lipid profile and body mass index(BMI) in type II diabetics.-Design and Setting: A randomized controlled clinical trial.-Study participants: the study was carried on 50 type II diabetic patients, both gender and followed for 6 weeks. the participants were randomly divided into intervention group who receives 50 mg/d elemental zinc and control group without zinc supplement.-Materials: S. zinc, fasting plasma glucose(FPG), fasting S. insulin, HbA1c, lipid profile, BMI were measured at the beginning(before supplementation and at the end of the 6 weeks duration.Results: After 6 weeks of zinc supplementation, serum zinc levels improved significantly (P=0.0001). There was no significant difference in BMI (P=0.092). Insulin resistance (IR), HbA1c were significantly decreased (change mean -0.75 P=0.004 and -0.72, P=0.001) respectively. HDL-C was significantly increased (change mean 3.56 mg/dl P=0.022). TG and TC were significantly decreased (change mean-10.92mg/dl P=0.001 and -3.52mg/dl P=0.009) respectively. There was significant positive correlation between zinc intake and serum zinc level (R 2 =0.432).-Conclusion: Our study results revealed that supplementation of 50 mg zinc sulphate improves insulin resistance and induces more healthy lipid profile, while it has no significant effect on BMI of type II diabetic patients after 6 weeks of supplementation.