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.
Dept. of Medicine, JLN Medical College and Associated Group of Hospital, Ajmer, Rajasthan-305 001.
R
R
Gupta
V K
VK
Garg
D K
DK
Mathur
R K
RK
Goyal
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