ABSTRACT
Background: Considering the high prevalence of zinc deficiency in Iran and important role of zinc in health of men, especially diabetic patients, this study was carried out to determine the effects of zinc supplementation on zinc, insulin and glucose levels in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged 50-65 years
Materials and Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted on 54 diabetic patients. None of them suffered from any disease other than type 2 diabetes mellitus. The subjects were matched according to age, duration of the disease, body mass index [BMI] and waist to hip ratio [WHR]. Then subjects were randomly assigned to receive either a zinc supplement [25 mg Zn/day, in sulfate form] or placebo for 2 months. Before and after the study period, fasting blood samples was taken from each patient to determine blood glucose, HbA1c, insulin, C-peptide concentrations, serum and leukocytes zinc. 2hpp and urinary glucose and zinc concentration were measured
Results: After treatment mean fasting blood glucose and 2hpp increased in both groups [p
Conclusion: In the present study, zinc supplementation had no significant effects on zinc, insulin and glucose levels in diabetic subjects
ABSTRACT
Toxoplasmosis is a wide distributed opportunistic infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii. This was a cross-sectional study of T. gondii antibody titer, which was conducted from June 2003 to August 2004 on renal transplant recipients in Iran. A total of 551 serum samples were obtained from randomly selected population referred from different areas all over the country to Shafa Central Clinic in Tehran. Patient's information was recorded in a questionnaire before sampling. Two samples of finger-prick blood were collected from each person and antibody titer against Toxoplasma was assessed by Indirect Fluorescence Antibody [IFA] technique on serum samples. Totally 39 cases [7.1%] of samples were positive for antibody by the titer of 1: 20 and higher. On investigation of risk factors, no significant difference was found between consumption of under-cooked meat, close contact with animals, and the source of drinking water and seropositivity rate of toxoplasmosis. The relatively low seroprevalence rate of Toxoplasma infection shows the successful approaches to awareness of transplant recipients about the potential risks of acquisition of infectious diseases due to regular administration of suppressive drugs. However, the regular surveillance through serological screening of Toxoplasma antibody in kidney transplant recipients is advisable