Assessment of serum zinc and its correlation with atherogenic index of plasma in type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Diabetes, a global health concern, is often compounded by nutritional perturbations. Micronutrients seem to play a regulatory role in the pathogenesis and progression of type 2 diabetes and recent evidence implicates a pivotal role of zinc in diabetes. The study aims to evaluate serum levels of zinc in diabetic patients and assess the correlation of zinc with lipid profile and ASCVD perturbations. Methodology: The present study was carried out in the Department of Biochemistry and Medicine of a tertiary care centre. 30 voluntarily consenting patients diagnosed with diabetes were recruited as cases while 30 non diabetic participants were recruited as controls. Blood samples from the participants were analysed for blood glucose, lipid profile, and serum zinc in Clinical Biochemistry Lab. Mann Whitney U test and Spearman’s rank correlation were performed to obtain statistical evidence. Results: Serum Zinc levels were significantly decreased in diabetics when compared to healthy controls. However, no statistical significance was observed among the two groups in lipid parameters, derived lipid ratios, and AIP. Serum zinc did not show a significant correlation with lipid profile, derived lipid risk assessment ratios, and AIP. Conclusion: Serum zinc levels are significantly lower in diabetics when compared to healthy subjects thus indicating the mechanistic role of zinc in the pathophysiology of T2DM. However, large cohort studies are required to clearly explain the extent of zinc deficiency and the therapeutic role/effect of zinc correction in patients with T2DM.