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Subject Area

Dermatology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of this research was to study the value of serum zinc in early detection of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Background Zinc is involved in multiple aspects of cellular metabolism. It is required for the catalytic activity of nearly 100 enzymes and it plays a major role in immunity, protein synthesis, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division. Zinc is also important for normal growth and development during pregnancy, childhood, and adolescence, and is required for proper sense of taste and smell. A daily intake of zinc is required to keep a steady state because the body has no specialized zinc storage system. Zinc plays important role in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes. Zinc supplementation for 12 weeks can reduce albumin excretion in patients with diabetic microalbuminuria probably through antioxidative mechanisms. Patients and methods This case–control study was conducted on 100 participants classified into four groups: 25 healthy individuals (group I), 25 diabetic patients without albuminuria (group II), 25 diabetic patients with albuminuria (group III), and 25 nondiabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (group IV). Results Mean serum zinc level was found to be lower in group III (37.6 ± 15.92) compared with the control group (80.48 ± 12.06) and other patient groups, group II (50.28 ± 15.85) and group IV (39.72 ± 16.21), with a high statistical significance. Conclusion Low serum zinc levels were related to the development of diabetic nephropathy.

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