Association between Trace Elements and Metabolic Syndrome among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Gorgan

Objective: Metabolic syndrome changes in different ethnic and age group. Trace elements are associated with metabolic syndrome. The present study was aimed to assess the serum levels of iron, zinc, and copper in Gorgan and their association with the metabolic syndrome components. Methods: The present study was carried out in the Metabolic Disorders Research Center of Gorgan Faculty of Medicine. There were 152 Type 2 diabetic subjects who were referred to the Department of Diabetes Center in 5th Azar Educational Hospital in Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2014. Results: The mean waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in the Type 2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome, but the mean HDL-cholesterol was significantly lower (p<0.05). Mean serum level of copper was slightly higher, and mean serum level of zinc and iron were lower in patients with metabolic syndrome than that of subjects without metabolic syndrome. There were significant differences in the mean of SBP and DBP, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose in men and women with metabolic syndrome when compared with subjects without metabolic syndrome. There were also significant differences in the mean of body mass index and waist circumference in women with metabolic syndrome. Serum zinc positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol level (in all and in women Type 2 diabetic patients), SBP (in all Type 2 diabetic patients), and DBP (in men Type 2 diabetic patients) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Differences of our results with other studies emphasize further research on trace elements and metabolic syndrome and their relationship with different diseases are necessary.