Even with following of the current guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many patients struggle with the hyperglycemia concerns. Diabetic patients are more susceptible to the damages of oxidative stress, particularly due to imbalance in zinc homeostasis.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on the superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene expression along with the enzyme activity in overweight individuals with T2DM. Biochemical parameters that includes fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and lipid profile and zinc serum levels were also assessed.

70 overweight (BMI > 25) T2DM patients were included based on the inclusion criteria in this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. The patients were divided into two groups for zinc gluconate supplementation of daily 50 mg or placebo for almost 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected from all the patients in the zinc group and control group for analysis.

The results of the study showed that, as compared to the control group, zinc supplementation increased both gene expression as well as enzyme activity of SOD and the insulin levels among the patients in the zinc group. Also, there was a significant reduction in the levels of FBG, HbA1c and HOMA-IR value, total cholesterol and triglycerides after the zinc treatment.

The study concluded that daily supplementation with 50 mg zinc gluconate might be a beneficial approach for the management of overweight T2DM.

Source: Nazem MR, Asadi M, Jabbari N, Allameh A. Effects of zinc supplementation on superoxide dismutase activity and gene expression, and metabolic parameters in overweight type 2 diabetes patients: A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Clin Biochem. 2019 Jul;69:15-20. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2019.05.008. Epub 2019 May 23. PMID: 31129183.