Evaluation of Serum Iron, Zinc and Their Relationships with Glycemic Control Status in Iranian Elderly Women with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

It seems that defects on micro-minerals levels have an etiologic role involved in type 1 diabetes mellitus pathogenicity.
The aim of our study were to evaluate the serum levels of zinc and iron and investigate their possible relationship between these
biochemical parameters with demographic conditions and glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus disorder. In this
case-control based study , 68 female with type 1 diabetes mellitus with a mean age of 52.2 ± 2 as case group and 122 healthy women
as a control group with a mean age of 49/4 ± 3/2 were investigated .for biochemical analysis ,10 mL fasting venous blood sample
were obtained from each subjects. FBS (fasting blood glucose), fructosamine (glycemic control parameter) were determined
(spectrophotometry method, (pars azmoon, Iran), nitroblue tetrazoline method respectively).serum zinc level with colorimetric
method (Biorex-UK) and serum iron with photometric method (pars azmoon, Iran) were determined. Statistical analysis using SPSS
software performed. Significant levels considered as P < 0.05. According to this study there is statistically significant difference
between serum levels of iron and zinc in patients with type 1 diabetes compared to controls .indeed serum level of iron and zinc had
lower level in patient group toward controls. In patients group, there are a positive correlation between age and decreased level of
serum zinc (P < 0.05). Also there was a significant negative correlation between the glycemic control status and serum zinc. Other
studied parameters concluded BMI (body mass index), Weight and height have not significant difference between groups. The
decrease in serum iron and zinc level in women with type 1 diabetes may be related to low dietary intake or increased excretion of
micro minerals or the presence of confounding factors that require more extensive intervention studies to confirm it