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Endocrine Abstracts (2017) 49 EP482 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.49.EP482

1Department of Endocrinology, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia; 2Biochemistry Laboratory, Pasteur Institute, Tunis, Tunisia.


Introduction: Recent studies have highlighted zinc’s dynamic role as a cellular second messenger in the control of insulin signaling and glucose homeostasis. The aim of our study was to assess the concentration of serum and urinary zinc levels in type 2 diabetic patients and to investigate the correlation between this variable and glycemic control.

Methods: Total 54 type 2 diabetic patients and 23 non diabetic healthy subjects (age matched) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Patients with malabsorption syndrome, chronic liver disease and chronic renal failure were excluded. Physical examination and laboratory tests, including serum and urinary zinc measurements were performed.

Results: The mean duration of diabetes was 4.32±7.95 years and mean HbA1c was 6.6±2.15%. Compared to control subjects, mean serum zinc level was significantly lower in diabetic patients (1.15±0.29 and 1.07±0.29 mg/l respectively, P=0.02). However, urinary zinc level was significantly higher in diabetic patients than in control group (1.04±1.06 mg/24 h and 0.57±0.4 mg/24 h, respectively, P=0.02). There were a negative correlation between serum zinc and HbA1c levels (r=0.85, P=−0.01) and between serum zinc and fasting plasma glucose levels (r=0.51, P=−0.01). However, a positive correlation between urinary zinc and HbA1c levels (r=0.23, P=0.02) was observed.

Conclusion: In our study, patients with T2D had lower serum zinc concentration than non-diabetic controls. This reduction could be associated with low zinc dietary intakes and increased urinary excretion relating to polyuria. Further studies were required to determine the role of zinc supplementation in improving glycemic control and preventing vascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients.

Volume 49

19th European Congress of Endocrinology

Lisbon, Portugal
20 May 2017 - 23 May 2017

European Society of Endocrinology 

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