Zinc supplementation improves glycemic control in overweight type 2 diabetes patients

"These data and our previous data indicate that the control in the glycaemic condition in these patients is correlated with the antioxidative/oxidative balance following 50 mg zinc supplementation for weight weeks," the researchers wrote. "Under these circumstances, the glycemic and clinical indices, including insulin, fasting blood glucose, homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance, and haemoglobin A1c were controlled."

Zinc is a nutrient naturally occurring in many foods such as meat, beans, and fish. It helps support various body functions, most notably helping the immune system due to its antioxidant properties. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement that people can have in addition to dietary sources to ensure an adequate nutrient intake.

Previous studies show that the recommended zinc dose may not be adequate for controlling pathological conditions such as type 2 diabetes. Mohammad Reza Nazem, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran, and colleagues aimed to assess the effects of zinc supplementation on the oxidative status in overweight type 2 diabetes patients. In addition, they also determined routine glycaemic parameters and compared them in patients treated with zinc or placebo in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

The study included 70 patients with type 2 diabetes. They were divided into two groups for 50 mg zinc gluconate supplementation (zinc group, n=35) or placebo (placebo group; n=35) per day for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected for all individuals in the zinc group and control for the analysis.

The study revealed the following findings:

• Zinc supplementation to patients with type 2 diabetes for eight weeks significantly inhibited serum levels of lipid peroxidation (25%), total oxidant status levels (25%), and nitrotyrosine (30%).
• The total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased (16%) after zinc intake by type 2 diabetes patients.

"The control in the blood sugar condition in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes is correlated with the antioxidative/oxidative balance following 50 mg zinc supplementation for eight weeks," the researchers concluded.

Reference:

Nazem, M. R., Asadi, M., Adelipour, M., Jabbari, N., & Allameh, A. Zinc supplementation ameliorates type 2 diabetes markers through the enhancement of total antioxidant capacity in overweight patients. Postgraduate Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.1136/postgradmedj-2021-140878