Plasma, granulocyte and mononuclear cell copper and zinc in patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

The concentrations of Cu and Zn were determined in the plasma, granulocytes and mononuclear cells of 26 patients with diabetes mellitus and 26 age and sex-matched controls. In addition, Cu was measured in both washed and unwashed red blood cells, and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity measured in washed red blood cells. Cu and Zn were determined by Zeeman-effect graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry following separation of plasma and red blood cells, and the white blood cell fractions (granulocytes and mononuclear cells) by density gradient centrifugation. There were no significant differences in any of the matching factors, or lipid profiles, between the groups. Plasma Zn was reduced by 17% in diabetics, compared with the controls (P = 0.0001). Neither the plasma nor the red blood cell Cu concentrations were significantly different. Of the white blood cell fractions, only mononuclear cell Cu was significantly different (30% lower in diabetics P = 0.0035, The red blood SOD activity was reduced in diabetics by over 12%, but this difference was non-significant (P = 0.0872). There was a significant negative correlation between washed red blood cell Cu and the duration of diabetes (r = -0.613, P = 0.0069). In conclusion, the copper and zinc status of these diabetic patients was reduced, providing further evidence of a role for these antioxidant trace elements in this disease.

Interactions Between Zinc Transporter-8 Gene (SLC30A8) and Plasma Zinc Concentrations for Impaired Glucose Regulation and Type 2 Diabetes

“…At the same time, zinc is a critical component of the catalytic site of .300 enzymes, implicated in synthesis, storage, and secretion of insulin, as well as being a signaling molecule after insulin secretion (5). Some studies have investigated possible associations between zinc status and diabetes; most reported that patients with diabetes had lower serum/plasma zinc levels (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14).…”

Correlation Between Serum Zinc and Glycosylated Hemoglobin Levels in Type Ii Diabetes Mellitus.

“…Mean HbA1c was higher in cases(7.03 ± 0.67%) than controls (5±0.29%), with p<0.001*. Williams et al, [21] reported DM to be a condition most frequently associated with hypozincemia, where they observed 17% decrease in serum zinc concentration in diabetics, compared with controls. The findings of the present study are consistent with Reefat et al, [28] who showed negative correlation between serum zinc concentration and baseline HbA1c% value in cases.…”

Zinc in relation to type 1 and type 2 diabetes: An overview

“…In a group of age/sex matched diabetic and normal subjects, cellular loss of zinc was documented from granulocytes as a marker for intracellular zinc status for the body in general in otherwise healthy individuals. Plasma Zn was 17% lower in the diabetic group than the control group but intra-cellular Zn differences did not reach statistical significance suggesting that the renal effects may be predominant in the eventual production of total body Zn depletion in diabetes (Williams et al, 1995). While hyperzincuria is almost uniformly found in diabetes, decreases in tissue.…”