Status of Serum Zinc and Magnesium among Type 2 Diabetic Subjects in Maiduguri

Disturbances in trace element status in diabetes may contribute to insulin resistance and the development of diabetes and diabetes complications.This study was undertaken to evaluate the status of serum zinc and magnesium among type 2 diabetic subjects attending endocrinology Clinic of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri.One hundred and thirty (130) subjects participated in this study which comprised of eighty (80) confirmed type 2 diabetic subjects and fifty (50) non diabetics as controls.Glucose oxidase-peroxidase, Xylidyl Blue colorimetric endpoint and colorimetric test with 5-Brom-PAPS methods were used for the measurement of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum magnesium and zinc respectively.Student's ttest and pearson's correlation coefficient were used to determine the statistical significance.There was significantly (p<0.05)high mean zinc concentration in diabetics as compared to that of the controls (15.67±0.58versus 12.67±0.55)μmol/L.However, no significant difference (p>0.05) was detected in the mean of serum magnesium concentration of diabetics and that of control subjects (0.79±0.02 versus 0.74±0.02)mmol/L.A significant positive correlation (r = 0.25; p<0.05) was observed between magnesium and age.However, there was no significant (p>0.05)difference in the correlation between magnesium and FPG, also no significant (p>0.05)correlation was also observed between serum zinc with age and FPG.In this study, zinc was found to be higher in diabetics as compared to controls.