Oral zinc therapy in diabetic neuropathy.
The present double blind randomized study was conducted on 50 subjects; 20 age and sex matched healthy controls (Group--I); 15 patients of diabetes mellitus with neuropathy who received placebo for 6 weeks (Group--IIA); and 15 patients of diabetes mellitus with neuropathy who were given supplemental zinc sulphate (660 mg) for 6 weeks (Group--IIB). Serum zinc level, fasting blood sugar (FBS) and post prandial blood sugar (PPBS) levels and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) were estimated on day 0 and after 6 weeks in all subjects. Serum zinc levels were significantly low (p < 0.001) in group IIA and IIB as compared to healthy controls (Group--I) at baseline. After 6 weeks the change in pre and post therapy values of FBS, PPBS and MNCV (median and common peroneal nerve) were highly significant (P = < 0.001) for group IIB alone with insignificant change (P = > 0.05) in group IIA. No improvement (P = > 0.05) in autonomic dysfunction was observed in either groups. Therefore, oral zinc supplementation helps in achieving better glycemic control and improvement in severity of peripheral neuropathy as assessed by MNCV.
Gupta
R
R
Dept. of Medicine, JLN Medical College and Associated Group of Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan-305 001.
Garg
V K
VK
Mathur
D K
DK
Goyal
R K
RK
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D015032:Zinc