Asare G.A., Osae S., Nortey E.N.N., Yambire F.K., Amedonu E., Doku D., Annan Y.
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana; Department of Chemistry, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Accra, Ghana; Department of Statistics, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box KB 143, Korle-bu, Accra, Ghana
Asare, G.A., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box KB 143, Korle-bu, Accra, Ghana; Osae, S., Department of Chemistry, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Accra, Ghana; Nortey, E.N.N., Department of Statistics, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana; Yambire, F.K., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana; Amedonu, E., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana; Doku, D., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana; Annan, Y., Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Chemical Pathology Unit, University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), Korle Bu, Ghana
Metabolic disturbances of trace elements may be implicated in the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the study was to determine the level of Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Copper (Cu) and the metal binding protein Metallothionein-1 (MT-1) in T2DM. Fifty-five (55) T2DM subjects and 30 Controls (C) were studied for, Se, Zn, Cu and MT-1. Zn, Se and Cu were analyzed using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Mean FBG in the T2DM and C groups were 183 ± 5 mg/dl and 88 ± 5 mg/dl, respectively. Mean Se, Zn and Cu levels in the T2DM group were 204 ± 91 μg/l, 407 ± 117 μg/l and 1,337 ± 527 μg/l, respectively. The control group had Se, Zn and Cu levels of 123 ± 25 μg/l, 750 ± 190 μg/l and 989 ± 197 μg/l, respectively. While Zn levels in T2DM were half that of the C, Se levels were ≈ 2-fold. Se, Zn and Cu differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P = 0.000; P = 0.000, P = 0.000, respectively). The metabolic derailment of MT-1 in the T2DM group showed a wide variation with the T2DM having significantly lower MT-1 values (P = 0.000). A negative correlation was seen between Cu and Zn in the T2DM group (P = 0.022). A standardized canonical discriminant function was obtained as D = 0.823FBG-0.149MT-0.457Zn + 0.172Cu + 0.362Se with contributions of FBG > Zn > Se > Cu > MT-1. In conclusion, alterations in the levels of Zn, Se and Cu were observed in Ghanaian T2DM patients. © 2013 Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India.
