Zinc and Copper Status of Middle- and Old-Aged Women in Type 2 Diabetes

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the zinc and copper status of type 2 diabetic women and to analyse the relationship among zinc and copper status, and diabetic control indices of diabetes. The mean age of diabetes was 57.9 years old. The mean duration of diabetes was 8.0 +/- 6.5 years. The mean daily energy intake of diabetes was 1562 kcal. There were no significant differences of age, BMI, %body fat, nutritional intakes, total energy intake, and energy composition from carbohydrate, protein, and fat between diabetes (n = 50) and control group (n = 68). However, both zinc intake density (4.15 mg/1000 kcal) and zinc %RDA (62.0%) of diabetes were significantly lower than control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, respectively). The plasma zinc level was not significantly different between diabetes and control group (90 microgram/dl, 91 microgram/dl, respectively). The proportion of diabetic women whose plasma zinc levels were lower than 76 microgram/dl (borderline zinc deficiency) was 18.8%. This was about 38% higher than control group. It has been suggested that insulin secretion might decrease in borderline plasma zinc and copper deficiency and increase in normal plasma zinc and copper status. The urinary zinc excretion was twice higher in diabetes than in control group (p < 0.001). The urinary zinc loss was positively correlated with the duration of diabetes (p < 0.05), hyperglycemia (p < 0.001) and insulin resistance (p < 0.05). These results lead us to conclude that normal blood glucose level controlled by diet therapy could improve the hyperzincuria in diabetic women.