RUDN Medics Found a Link Between Zinc Deficiency and Prediabetes

According to RUDN medics, the reduction of zinc and other microelements concentration in the blood of women in postmenopause may indicate prediabetes. This information may be used for better diagnostics and treatment of this condition. The research was published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology.

Prediabetes is an intermediary condition between the healthy state of the body and diabetes. During prediabetes the body is already partially unable to support normal blood sugar levels, but the concentration of glucose does not increase as rapidly as in cases of diabetes. This condition can be managed with diet and exercise. Previously a team of researchers from the Department of Medical Elementology at RUDN under the supervision of Prof. Skalny had already confirmed a correlation between diabetes and microelement metabolism disturbance. This time they wanted to find out whether such metabolic changes could be observed before the onset of the disease.

"We studied women in postmenopause because this period of life is associated with an increased risk of metabolic disturbances. They lead to hormonal changes and in particular to diabetes. We wanted to find out whether the microelement metabolism disturbance was a late consequence of diabetes or an early one, and whether it could be detected before the onset of the disease," explained Alexey Tinkov, candidate of medicine, a senior lecturer at the Department of Elementology, RUDN, and a co-author of the study.

The participants of the study were 160 women that had entered postmenopause, 80 of which suffered from prediabetes and 80 were healthy. The scientists measured the levels of 28 microelements in blood serum taken from both groups, and women with prediabetes turned out to have 10% lower levels of zinc. The levels of other microelements, namely strontium, were also reduced.

The team also evaluated the concentration of glucose and glycohemoglobin in blood plasma. Both these substances are used to diagnose diabetes. They turned out to be in inverse proportion to microelements: the higher the values of glucose and glycohemoglobin, the lower the concentration of zinc and other microelements, and vice versa.

"Reduced zinc levels in the blood of prediabetic women corresponded to the results we'd previously obtained from women with type II diabetes—they also had lower zinc concentration in blood serum," explained Alexey Tinkov. The new data may be used in two ways. First, the measurement of the levels of microelements may serve as an additional test to assess diabetes risks. Secondly, the correction of zinc and other microelements levels in the body may help reduce such risks.

"Several studies confirm the efficiency of zinc in carbohydrate metabolism correction. This method has not been widely used yet, as there is still no sufficient data available. Our results also show that zinc-based drugs may be used to prevent diabetes. However, not everyone who is concerned about being at risk of diabetes should immediately take zinc. First of all, they should pass tests, find out if they have zinc deficiency, and then make up for it. Although zinc is a vital substance, its excess may have negative effect on the body," added Alexey Tinkov.

More information:
Margarita G. Skalnaya et al. ICP-DRC-MS analysis of serum essential and toxic element levels in postmenopausal prediabetic women in relation to glycemic control markers, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology (2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.09.008

Provided by RUDN University