Serum zinc levels in diabetic patients and effect of zinc supplementation on glycemic control of type 2 diabetics.

OBJECTIVE: The present study is an attempt to assess serum zinc level in a sample of diabetic patients (both type 1 and type 2 diabetics) in comparison with those of apparently healthy controls, and to ascertain the relationship between the levels of serum zinc with some epidemiological variables. Furthermore, a trial of zinc supplementation for 3 months conducted to assess the effect of zinc supplementation on glycemic control of the studied type 2 diabetic patients, and the factors that affect the response to this supplementation. METHODS: Collection of data was carried out during the period between November 2002 to February 2003 at the Diabetic Center of Merjan Teaching Hospital in Babil Governorate, Iraq. In the first part of the study (a case-control study), the diabetic group included 133 diabetic patients (type 1 and 2) who were chosen from patients attending the Diabetic Center during the period of the study. The control group included 133 apparently healthy subjects who were selected from the workers of the same hospital. Selection of cases and controls was carried out by using systematic random sampling procedure. In the second part of the study (single blind were intervention study), type 2 diabetic patients (101 patients) divided into 2 groups; the first group included 50 patients supplemented with oral zinc sulfate (30 mg of elemental zinc/cap/day) for 3 months and second group included 51 patients given placebo and designed as control group. RESULTS: The first part of the study shows that the mean value for serum zinc level was significantly lower in diabetic patients than healthy controls (64.2 +/- 12.6 microg/dl for type 1 diabetics, and 68.9 +/- 11.9 microg/dl for type 2 diabetics versus 83.4 +/- 12.5 microg/dl for healthy controls). Using simple linear regression, significant positive correlation was found between serum zinc level and years of education and significant negative correlation was found between serum zinc level and baseline HbA1c% value, in the diabetic group. While significant positive correlation found between serum zinc level and estimated zinc intake in the control group. Using multiple regression analysis, serum zinc level showed significant positive correlation with gender (being a male compared with female), and estimated zinc intake and significant negative correlation with diabetes state (diabetic compared with non-diabetic), residence (urban compared with rural residents), and plant protein intake. The second part of the study shows that the mean value for HbA1c% concentration of the supplemented group decreased significantly at the end of the 3 months of follow up, while no significant changes were found in the mean value for HbA1c% of the control group. The present study showed that the change in HbA1c% after supplementation had significant negative correlation with baseline HbA1c% value. CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients have significantly lower mean serum zinc levels compared with healthy controls. Zinc supplementation for type-2 diabetics has beneficial effects in elevating their serum zinc level, and in improving their glycemic control that is shown by decreasing their HbA1c% concentration.

Spousal Concordance of Diabetes Mellitus among Women in Ajman, United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: Spousal concordance is defined as similar behaviours and associated health statuses between spouses. This study aimed to identify the concordance of diabetes mellitus (DM) and related variables among genetically unrelated couples in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 270 married women attending either the Mushairef Health Center or the Gulf Medical College Hospital in Ajman between May and November 2012. A validated questionnaire was designed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and a history or family history of DM, hypertension, coronary artery disease or dyslipidaemia among the women and their husbands. The weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting blood sugar and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of all women were measured. RESULTS: Of the women, 39.3% of those with diabetic husbands and 39.9% of those with non-diabetic husbands were diabetic themselves (P >0.050). The prevalence of DM spousal concordance was 17.8%. A history of hypertension, coronary artery disease and dyslipidaemia was significantly more frequent among women whose husbands had a history of the same conditions (P = 0.001, 0.040 and 0.002, respectively). Spousal concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands was significant (P = 0.001). Having a diabetic husband (P = 0.006) and being obese (P = 0.009) were the only significant predictors of hyperglycaemia among non-diabetic women after controlling for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: There was significant concordance of abnormal glycaemia among non-diabetic women with diabetic husbands. The spouses of diabetic patients may therefore be a target population for regular hyperglycaemia and DM screening.

Zinc deficiency among a healthy population in Baghdad, Iraq.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency and the current zinc status among a sample selected from the healthy population in Baghdad, Iraq. METHODS: We carried out a community-based study in Baghdad City, Iraq from November through June 2002. We selected a sample of 2090 healthy subjects (aged 1 month to 85 years). We used a pre-tested questionnaire, designed to obtain information on gender, birth dates, height, weight, residence, habitual food consumption patterns, and social status. We performed laboratory assessment of serum zinc level, dietary assessment of food frequency and usual zinc intake. We considered subjects with serum zinc concentration of <7.7 umol/l zinc deficient and >/-7.7 to 12.3 umol/l mild to moderately zinc deficient. RESULTS: The prevalence of zinc deficiency among the studied sample was 2.7%. We found mild to moderate zinc deficiency among 55.7% of the study sample. Dietary zinc intake assessment showed that 74.8% of the studied sample consumed less than the recommended intake, and in 62.3%, the intakes were deficient and grossly deficient. Mean daily zinc ranged from 5.2 mg in children to 8.5 mg in adults. CONCLUSION: We observed a high prevalence of mild to moderate zinc deficiency, with inadequate dietary zinc intake among a considerable proportion of the studied sample. Zinc supplementation may be an effective public health intervention means to improve the zinc status of the population.

Anemia among adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of anemia in a group of apparently healthy school adolescents selected from 2 distinct socio-economic areas (SEAs) in Baghdad; and to assess the importance of diet and some other factors which could be relevant in the epidemiology of anemia in adolescents. METHODS: A random sample of 1051 adolescents were included in the present study, 46% of them (487 adolescents) were from Al-Mansoor area for high socio-economic area (HSEA) and 54% of them (564 adolescents) were from Al-Horya area for low socio-economic area (LSEA) in Baghdad, Iraq. Collection of data was carried out during the period between November 1996 until the end of April 1997. Hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume levels were determined. Dietary intake of iron, calories, protein and Vitamin C were estimated. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia among adolescents in HSEA was 12.9% compared with 17.6% in LSEA. Hemoglobin concentration in males was significantly correlated with age and dietary iron intake while in females it was correlated significantly with years of education of father and mother, number of pads and age at menarche. CONCLUSION: Anemia among adolescents was found to be a health problem of moderate severity.

Assessment of Breast Cancer Awareness among Female University Students in Ajman, United Arab Emirates.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess female university students' knowledge of breast cancer and its preventative measures and to identify their main misconceptions regarding breast cancer. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April 2011 and June 2012 and included female students from three large universities in Ajman, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A stratified random sampling procedure was used. Data were collected through a validated, pilot-tested, self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included 35 questions testing knowledge of risk factors, warning signs and methods for the early detection of breast cancer. Participants' opinions regarding breast cancer misconceptions were also sought. RESULTS: The participants (n = 392) were most frequently between 18 and 22 years old (63.5%), non-Emirati (90.1%) and never married (89%). A family history of breast cancer was reported by 36 (9.2%) of the students. The percentage of participants who had low/below average knowledge scores regarding risk factors, warning signs and methods for early detection of breast cancer was 40.6%, 45.9% and 86.5%, respectively. Significantly higher knowledge scores on risk factors were noticed among participants with a family history of breast cancer (P = 0.03). The misconception most frequently identified was that "treatment for breast cancer affects a woman's femininity" (62.5%). CONCLUSION: A profound lack of knowledge about breast cancer was noted among female university students in the three UAE universities studied. The most prominent gaps in knowledge identified were those concerning breast cancer screening methods.