Quantification of Some Trace Elements in The Scalp Hair of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major global health challenges of the 21st century. Owing to their diversified metabolic characteristics and functions, various metals such as zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) are considered to be essential for human health. Deficiency of some essential trace elements may lead to the development of DM. The present study aimed to evaluate the contents of Zn, Cu, Cr, Mn, and Mg in the scalp hair samples of patients with type 2 DM from Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). The hair samples were collected from 55 patients with DM aged 45–65 years. Also, 55 age-matched nondiabetic healthy subjects were selected from the same city for a comparative analysis. Zn, Cr, Mn, and Mg levels in hair were found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the group of patients with type 2 DM than in nondiabetic subjects. However, the Cu level in hair was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients with type 2 DM than in nondiabetic subjects. The results revealed that hair Cu concentrations in patients with DM were positively related to body mass index (BMI), whereas Zn, Cr, Mn, and Mg concentrations were inversely related to BMI. Finally, the concentrations of these trace elements in the scalp hair and serum samples of patients with DM were compared.