Selenium, zinc and copper in plasma of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in different metabolic control states.

The Studies of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) levels in diabetic patients have led to contradictory findings as the possible relationship between the degree of diabetic control and the changes in mineral contents. In the present study the plasma Cu, Se, and Zn contents of diabetic patients and healthy people were measured and the relationship between these contents and diabetic metabolic control, as determined by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), was studied. The mean plasma Se content in diabetic patients was significantly lower than in controls (p < 0.01) and a negative correlation between the plasma contents of Se and HbA1c was found. No statistically significant differences in plasma Zn contents, either between patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and control, were found. A statistically significant sex difference in plasma Cu contents was observed in the control population. In females, statistically significant differences were found in plasma Cu contents between the control subjects and the diabetic patients with medium or poor metabolic control, as well as between diabetic patients with good and poor metabolic control. In males, the only statistically significant differences were between the control subjects and diabetic patients with poor metabolic control. The correlation between plasma contents of Cu and HbA1c is not significant.