Significance of Serum Levels of Copper and Zinc in Type II Diabetic, Hypertensive, and Diabetic Hypertensive Patients in Gaza City

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate copper and zinc serum levels in diabetic patients, hypertensive patients and diabetic hypertensive patients and investigate existing correlation between trace elements ( Zinc and copper) and serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides , HDL, and LDL levels in these groups . Research design and methods: Convenience sample of 52 type II diabetes mellitus, 52 hypertensive patients, 52 diabetic hypertensive patients, and 52 normal subjects considered as apparently healthy by clinical examination and with no history of any disease were included in the study. Fasting blood samples were collected from all subjects and appropriately processed for analysis of glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides, HDL, LDL by using chemical procedure, serum Cu and Zn were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry . Results: In diabetic patients the serum levels of glucose (Mean±SD =213±66.3), serum levels of triglycerides (161±23.3), serum levels of LDL (95.3±36.3), serum levels of Cu (68.8±37.9) were found to be higher than normal group serum levels of glucose (Mean±SD=93.5±12.1), serum levels of triglycerides (151±29.1), LDL levels(73.6±36.2), serum Cu levels (45.3±18.1). In diabetic group there was no correlation between zinc and glucose, triglycerides and HDL of study group (p > 0.05). While there was an inverse correlation found with cholesterol (P<0.01) and LDL (P<0.01), there exists also positive correlation with copper (p<0.001). In diabetic group there was a strong positive correlation exists between copper and glucose level (P<0.001), and triglycerides (P<0.05), while there was weak negative correlation found with LDL (p<0.05). Copper also correlates well with zinc (p<0.001). In diabetic group there was an inverse correlation exists between zinc and Cholesterol level (P<0.01), and LDL level (P<0.01). In hypertensive patients serum levels of glucose (99.5±21.1) ,serum levels of cholesterol (183±36.6),serum levels of triglycerides (167±58) , serum LDL levels (103±35.5), and HDL serum levels in hypertensive (45.6±9.2) were not significantly different from serum control levels. Serum Cu level (52.4±23.5), serum zinc level (25.3±8.25) were found to be higher than normal group serum levels. In hypertensive patients there was no correlation between copper and glucose level, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL (p>0.05). Also there were no correlation between zinc and glucose level, cholesterol ,triglycerides ,HDL, also no correlation found with LDL(p>0.05). In diabetic hypertensive patients serum levels of glucose (213±87.4), serum Cu levels (61.1 ±28.6), and serum Zn level (23.4±9.99 were found to be higher than normal group. However HDL serum levels (49.2±16.3) was found lower than normal group (50.6±11.9). In diabetic hypertensive group there was a positive correlation between serum copper levels and serum HDL levels (p<0.05). Zinc also correlated positively with LDL (p<0.05). Conclusion: Throughout this study we have focused on the role of zinc and copper in diabetes and hypertension. The levels of zinc and copper are differentially changed in the studied groups. Each diseased group demonstrates specific correlations with glucose and lipid profile parameters which implies different mechanisms of etiology.