Last update:
30-Jan-2011

OBJECTIVE To clarify the role of malondialdehyde (MDA), zinc, copper, chromium, magnesium and selenium in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).

METHOD Fifty patients with type 2 DM were enrolled in this study, together with 15 healthy subjects, matched for age and sex, who served as the control group. The patients with type 2 DM were classified into 2 groups: Group 1: Uncomplicated type 2 DM (20 patients). Group 2: Complicated type 2 DM (30 patients). Overnight fasting serum levels of glucose (FBS), cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), MDA, zinc, copper, chromium, magnesium and selenium were estimated in all subjects.

RESULTS Statistically significant differences between group 1, group 2 and the control group were found in zinc, magnesium, selenium and MDA. FBS showed high significant negative correlations with zinc and selenium and significant positive correlation with copper. The HbA1c showed significant negative correlation with zinc, magnesium and selenium, and positive correlation with copper. MDA showed significant increase, while zinc, magnesium and selenium showed significant decrease in both the uncomplicated and complicated DM groups than the control group. Magnesium showed significant decrease in uncomplicated DM than the complicated DM group. MDA showed high significant positive correlation with copper and negative correlation with zinc, magnesium and selenium.

CONCLUSIONS Trace elements and MDA could have a role as cofactors in the pathogenesis and complications of type 2 DM. Trace element supplementation and antioxidants might have utility in the treatment of this complex disorder.

Key words: Chromium, Copper, Magnesium, Malondialdehyde, Selenium, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Zinc.