Measurement of Trace Elements Association with Diabetes Mellitus Based on Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometers

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the serum level of zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and magnesium (Mg) in random population of diabetic mellitus patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus and their possible association with age, and sex. A relationship has been reported between trace elements and diabetes mellitus. The trace elements were very important for human life, which their equilibrium is healthy and their imbalance in blood serum lead to very dangerous diseases.  This study evaluated the role of such a relationship between the plasma zinc, chromium and magnesium and diabetes mellitus.  (Zn, Mg, and Cr) have been measured in the serum of in 20 patients (12 men and 8 women) apparently healthy Iraqi persons aged (20-70) years. The levels of these elements were analysed using flame and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer, Phoenix-986 AA spectrophotometer and Shimaadzu AA-6800 atomic absorption spectrophotometer respectively. The mean concentration of zinc was between (0.76 – 1.02) µg/ml in men and slightly lower in women, it was in the range (0.71 – 1.01) µg/ml. The concentration of zinc were slightly increased with ages especially the groups between (30-42) years and slightly reduced in the group between (49-60) years. The concentration of zinc in all groups under investigation seems to be stable. The study shows that there is a deficiency in zinc value in men and women controls by 23.5% and 20.1% respectively.The chromium level of blood serum were measured for all volunteer, the mean range in men were between (0.012 – 0.060) µg/ml with a deficiency of 40.1%. While the chromium range in women was between (0.011 – 0.041) µg/ml with a deficiency of 40.4%. The result observed that the concentration of chromium has the highest value in both sexes were in the age of (23-32) years.The mean concentration of magnesium in blood serum was measured for all adults under investigation. It was between (18 – 27) µg/ml for men and women. It was noted that the Mg level was more in women than in men in the ages between (50-59) years. The mean Mg deficiency was 12.3%.  The goal of this study was to know the effect of trace element especially (Zn, Mg, and Cr) on the diabetes mellitus by measuring the concentrations of these elements and determine the deficiency of each trace element in the patients and then treat the state.

Keywords: Trace elements, Diabetes mellitus, Zinc, Chromium, Magnesium