Serum Zinc Levels do not Differ in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects with and without Coronary Artery Disease

Aims: The scope of this study is to investigate zinc levels in type 2 diabetic subjects with and without coronary artery disease (CAD).

Place and Duration of Study: This study was performed in outpatient clinic of General Hospital of Nikaia between December 2009 and May 2010.

Methodology: A total of 100 type 2 diabetic subjects with CAD and 100 diabetic subjects without CAD were enrolled into the study.

Results: There was no difference of serum zinc levels between diabetic subjects with and without CAD (89.53±22.39 vs. 86.97±20.85 μg/dl, P= 0.40). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed significant independent associations between zinc and age (beta = -0.23, P= 0.01) and alcohol consumption (beta = 0.29, P=0.001) in diabetic subjects with CAD. Also, significant independent associations demonstrated between serum zinc and dietary vitamins intake (beta = 0.19, P= 0.03) and number of platelets (beta = 0.16, P= 0.05) in diabetic subjects without CAD.

Conclusion: Serum zinc levels were not different between diabetic subjects with and without CAD. Age and alcohol consumption were the only determinants of serum zinc levels in diabetic subjects with CAD. Dietary vitamins intake and number of platelets were the only determinants of serum zinc levels in diabetic subjects without CAD.