Effect of zinc supplementation on zinc status, copper status and cellular immunity in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus.

This preliminary study was to investigate the effects of zinc supplementation on Zn status, Cu status, serum macrominerals and lymphocyte subsets in elderly diabetic patients. The results of Zn supplementation can correct plasma Zn levels to normal values. However, this treatment did not affect the cellular Zn, copper status and serum macrominerals. Enhancement of the percentage of CD4 cells was observed after Zn therapy but had no effect on the percentage of CD8 cells and CD4/CD8 ratios. Our finding implicated that zinc supplementation might be useful to enhance the immune status in these patients.