Open AccessZinc deficiency correlates with severity of diabetic polyneuropathy
Author(s) -
Hussein Mona,
Fathy Wael,
Hassan Amr,
Elkareem Rehab Abd,
Marzouk Salma,
Kamal Yasmine Shawki
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brain and behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 41
ISSN - 2162-3279
DOI - 10.1002/brb3.2349
Subject(s) - medicine , glycemic , peripheral neuropathy , polyneuropathy , diabetic neuropathy , diabetes mellitus , gastroenterology , nerve conduction , zinc , zinc deficiency (plant disorder) , endocrinology , pathology , micronutrient , materials science , metallurgy
Abstract Objectives There are controversies about the role of zinc in the development of both types 1 and 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess serum zinc level in diabetic patients with and without peripheral neuropathy in comparison to healthy controls and to explore the possible relationship between serum zinc level and severity of peripheral neuropathy. Methods This case control study was conducted on 120 subjects: 40 patients fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of probable diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN), 40 diabetic patients without polyneuropathy (N‐DPN) and 40 healthy controls. DPN patients were submitted to clinical assessment of diabetic neuropathy using neuropathy symptom and change (NSC) scale, Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Physical Assessment (MNSI) scale and electrophysiological assessment using nerve conduction study. Zinc serum level was measured in all subjects included in this study using direct colorimetric test method. Results Diabetic patients with and without neuropathy were found to have significantly lower mean values of serum zinc than healthy controls ( p = .025, .03 respectively). There is a statistically significant negative correlation between zinc serum level and hemoglobin A1C (HA1C) ( p ˂ .001), NSC score ( p = .001) and MNSI score ( p = .003) in DPN group. There were also statistically significant correlations between zinc serum level and nerve conduction study values. Conclusion Zinc deficiency significantly correlates with the severity of DPN and glycemic control.