EFFECT OF ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION ON SERUM FASTING BLOOD SUGAR AND HbA1c IN ADULT DIABETICS ON ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC AGENTS

Background: Studies on humans have shown the beneficial effects of zinc supplementation in patients with diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc supplementation on fasting blood glucose and HbA1c% in adult diabetic patients on oral hypoglycemic agents. Material Methods: This single blinded, randomized control trial was conducted in JPMC, Karachi, Pakistan, from April, 2015 to July, 2015. Sample size was 101 adult diabetic type 2 patients selected through consecutive sampling technique. Subjects were randomly allocated to experimental and control groups. All adults with T2DM on oral hypoglycemic drugs were included. Those having any complications were excluded from the study. Zinc sulphate 20 mg/day plus oral hypoglycemic to intervention group, and placebo plus oral hypoglycemic to control group were given. Demographic variable was ethnicity. Research variables were FBG and HbA1c. Ethnicity had attributes of Pathan, Punjabi and Urdu speakers. Data was analyzed on SPSS. ANOVA test was applied to see the mean difference in experimental and control group, among different ethnicities. Results: Out of 101 patients 49(48.5%) were males and 52 (51.5%) females. Thirty three subjects (32.2%) were pathan, 32(31.7%) were punjabi and 36(35.6%) were urdu speakers. The mean of difference between experimental and control groups for changes in FBG was 24.03 (p 0.001) in Pathans, 17.11 (p 0.001) in Punjabies and 19.56 (p 0.001) in Urdu speakers. While the mean of difference in HbA1c was 0.67 (p 0.99), 0.6 (p 0.99) and 0.56 (p 0.99) in Pathans, Punjabies and Urdu speakers respectively. Conclusion: This study indicates significant improvements of Fasting Blood Glucose in zinc supplemented diabetic patients of different ethnic groups.