Adults with prediabetes assigned to zinc supplementation are less likely to progress to type 2 diabetes compared with adults not assigned to supplementation, and supplementation may lead to reductions in fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test and insulin resistance, according to researchers in Sri Lanka.
- Researchers evaluated data from 200 adults (mean age, 51.8 years; 43% men) with prediabetes randomly assigned to zinc 20 mg per day or placebo to determine the effect of zinc on glycemic control, other cardiometabolic and anthropometric parameters, and progression of disease.
- Participants were enrolled between August 2012 and December 2016; the study duration was 12 months. Study visits were conducted at baseline, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
- Type 2 diabetes developed in more participants in the placebo group compared with the zinc group (25% vs. 11%; OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.5). Reductions in FPG and 2-hour OGTT were observed in the zinc group but not in the placebo group. From baseline, insulin resistance decreased significantly at 6 and 12 months in the zinc group, but the decreases were not observed in the placebo group.
“Zinc Supplementation May Lower Diabetes Progression Risk,” Journal of Diabetes, 2017, https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/diabetes/news/in-the-journals/%7B3c3f00ad-1cba-44d9-8702-ea4f2f03755b%7D/zinc-supplementation-may-lower-diabetes-progression-risk?utm_source=selligent&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=endocrinology%20news&m_bt=852809511235
