Delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) activity in diabetes and hypothyroidism.
OBJECTIVE
This study analyzed the influence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and primary hypothyroidism on the activity of the delta-aminolevulinate dehydratase (delta-ALA-D) in human blood.


METHODS
Delta-ALA-D enzyme activity was determined in normal (healthy) people (n=29), compensated (DMC, n=11) and non-compensated diabetic patients (NDMC, n=23), and in patients with compensated (CH, n=19) and non-compensated primary hypothyroidism (NCH, n=10). The determination of lead, copper, zinc and magnesium was performed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.


RESULTS
This study shows that delta-ALA-D activity was decreased (P<0.05) in situations associated to hyperglycemia maintained for long periods (HbA1c high). Another finding of this study suggests that states of hypofunction of the thyroid gland, when non-compensated, increase the activity of delta-ALA-D (P<0.001). In addition, copper was elevated in HNC, zinc was diminished in DMC, HC and HNC, and magnesium was diminished in the HNC group.


CONCLUSIONS
This result points out that there is a correlation among diabetes, hypothyroidism and delta-ALA-D activity.
Souza
João B
JB
Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil.
Rocha
João B T
JB
Nogueira
Cristina W
CW
Borges
Vanessa C
VC
Kaizer
Rosilene R
RR
Morsch
Vera M
VM
Dressler
Valderi L
VL
Martins
Ayrton F
AF
Flores
Erico M M
EM
Schetinger
Maria R C
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase / Q000097:blood*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003300:Copper; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D000623:Porphobilinogen Synthase; D013972:Thyrotropin; D015032:Zinc