Influence of Age, Gender and Duration of Diabetes on Serum and Urine Levels of Zinc, Magnesium, Seleniumand Chromium in Type 2 Diabetics in Calabar, Nigeria

The study aimed to demonstrate the possible effect of some variables such as age,gender and duration of diabetes on the serum and urine levels of zinc, magnesium,selenium and chromium in type 2 diabetic subjects and a control group of nondiabetic individuals. Serum and urine zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr) and creatinine; fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and serum urea levelswere determined in 60 diabetic subjects of both genders aged between 40-75 years and 40 age matched non diabetic subjects from Calabar, Nigeria using colorimetric methods and atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). Elderly diabetics (55-75) have significantly (p<0.05) lower serum Se and Cr and higher urinary traceelements than the younger age group (40-54). Female diabetics have significantly (p<0.05) higher serum Zn and Se and lower urinary Mg and Zn than diabetic males. Serum and urine trace elements concentrations varied significantly (p<0.05) with the duration of diabetes. Aging and increasing duration of diabetes alters the metabolism of Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium and Chromium by decreasing their serum concentration and increasing their urinary excretion. The gender related differences in trace element levels in diabetics, might be attributed to hormonal imbalance associated with the diabetic state.