Abstract

Zinc is known to have important effects on insulin activity and to increase the body fat deposition. The purpose of this study was to investigate the zinc status and obesity in 50 type 2 diabetic women visiting public health center and hospital. The mean age was 57.9 +/- 6.9 years old. The mean of diabetic duration was 8.0 +/- 6.5 years. Body mass index (BMI) of diabetes was 23.2 +/- 2.3 kg/m2. There were no significant differences of mean age, anthropometric indices, and insulin level other than fasting blood sugar (p< 0.001) and insulin resistance (p< 0.001) between diabetes and control group. The obesity ratio of diabetes was 20%, 66% and 84% for BMI, waist circumference and waist/hip ratio (WHR), respectively. Plasma zinc level was not significantly different between diabetes and control group. However, urinary zinc excretion of diabetes was approximately twice of control group (p< 0.001). Urinary zinc loss was fivefold higher in the hyperglycemia (HbA1c > 10%) than in normal blood glucose (p< 0.001). Anthropometric indices were decreased in hyperglycemia. On the other hand, there were the tendency of increased urinary zinc in obese group for waist circumference and percent of body fat. These results suggested that controlled normal blood glucose could improve hyperzincuria and anthropometric changes in type 2 women diabeties.

• Keywords: diabetes; anthropometric indices; insulin; hyperzincuria; hyperglycemia