Zinc and the Diabetic Heart

Abstract

Zinc (Zn) is an essential mineral that is required for various cellular functions. Its abnormal metabolism is related to certain disorders such as diabetic complications. Oxidative stress has been considered as the major causative factor for diabetic cardiomyopathy. Zn has a critical antioxidant action in protecting the heart from various oxidative stresses. Zn deficiency was found to be a risk factor for cardiac oxidative damage and supplementation with Zn provides a significant prevention of oxidative damage to the heart. Diabetes causes a significant systemic oxidative stress and also often is accompanied by Zn deficiency that increases the susceptibility of the heart to oxidative damage. Therefore, there is a strong rationale to consider the strategy of Zn supplementation to prevent or delay diabetic cardiomyopathy. This short article collects the preliminary evidence, based on our own studies and those by others, for a preventive effect of Zn supplementation on diabetes-induced injury to the heart in animals and under in vitro conditions. Possible mechanisms by which Zn supplementation prevents diabetic heart disease are discussed. They include an antioxidant action of Zn, insulin function and metallothionein induction. In the final section, the future of Zn supplementation for diabetic patients is also briefly discussed. Although Zn supplementation has not been clinically used to prevent diabetic complications, because several issues need to be addressed, the fact that Zn supplementation is being used clinically for other disorders encourages us to explore its direct clinical application for the prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Evaluation of trace elements and oxidative stress levels in the liver and kidney of streptozotocin-induced experimental diabetic rat model

“…There are many studies using experimental diabetic modeling and reporting increases in lipid peroxidation or changes in element metabolism in diabetic patients (Wilson et al 2003;Song et al 2005). Previous researchers have suggested an interrelationship between diabetes and various micronutrients, including Mg, Cr, Fe, Zn, Cu, etc.…”

Effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in prepubertal obese children

“…18 In a trial among diabetic patients, zinc supplementation was effective in reducing HbA1C. 7 Furthermore, some studies have suggested that zinc supplementation could improve insulin sensitivity in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. 19 The national prevalence of MetS in Iran is high, and is estimated to be 34.7% among adults 20 and 14.2% among children and adolescents.…”

“…Many experimental and clinical studies have documented the fact that zinc deficiency may predispose to glucose intolerance, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. [7][8][9] The effect of zinc on low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) has also been reported. 7,10 Unlike the effects of macronutrients on MetS which have been extensively investigated, 1,10,11 the potential effects of micronutrients have received limited attention and such studies are particularly sparse in the pediatric age group.…”

Insulino-mimetic and anti-diabetic effects of zinc

“…At the molecular level, Zn is an exceptionally important micronutrient, required for over 300 enzymatic reactions that take place in the body (79), and is part of more than 2000 Zn dependent transcription factors and other proteins (80). Zinc is present in the cell nucleus, nucleolus, and the chromosomes.…”