Effects of combination of zinc and vitamin A supplementation on serum fasting blood sugar, insulin, apoprotein B and apoprotein A-I in patients with type I diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
There is accumulating evidence that shows the metabolism of zinc and vitamin A are altered in diabetes mellitus type I (DMTI), thus the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of combination of zinc and vitamin A supplementation on serum fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, apoprotein B and apoprotein A-I in patients with DMTI.


METHODS
Forty-eight, 7-year-old to 20-year-old patients with at least 2 years of DMTI history, without any metabolic condition or medicine intake with insulin treatment, participated in a randomized double-blind clinical trial for 12 weeks. They were divided into zinc and vitamin A (VAZ)-supplemented (10 mg elemental zinc per day and one-half of a 25,000 IU vitamin A tablet every other day) and/or placebo groups after matching for sex, age and DMTI duration. Nutrient intake was estimated using 24 h recall and was analyzed by food processor program. Serum apoproteins B and A-I, FBS and insulin levels were determined at the beginning and end of the trial.


RESULTS
There was significant increase in apoprotein A-I (P < 0.0001) and a significant decrease in apoprotein B (P < 0.0001) and apoprotein B/apoprotein A-I ratio (P < 0.0001) at the end of the study compared with baseline values in the VAZ group but apoprotein A-I had a significant increase (P < 0.0001) and the apoprotein B/apoprotein A-I ratio had a significant decrease (P = 0.02) at the end of study in the VAZ group compared with the control group


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that combined zinc and vitamin A supplementation can improve serum apoprotein A-I, apoprotein B and the apoprotein B/apoprotein A-I ratio in patients with DMTI.
Shidfar
Farzad
F
School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614525, Iran. farzadshidfar@yahoo.com
Aghasi
Mahshid
M
Vafa
Mohammadreza
M
Heydari
Iraj
I
Hosseini
Sharieh
S
Shidfar
Shahrzad
S
D000293:Adolescent; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood*; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D018977:Micronutrients; D014801:Vitamin A; D015032:Zinc