title: Influence of therapy with metformin on the concentration of certain divalent cations in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Research was performed on a group of 30 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), who never received antidiabetic medication before, and on a group of 17 healthy adults. The patients were administered treatment with metformin, 1,000 mg/day. Plasmatic and urinary concentration of magnesium have been measured, copper and zinc along with the concentrations of glucose, HDL, LDL, cholesterol, tryglicerides, HbA1c, and total erythrocyte magnesium, in advance and after 3 months of treatment. Data showed significant differences in the NIDDM group vs the control group: for plasma magnesium-1.95 ± 0.19 vs 2.20 ± 0.18 mg/dl, p < 0.001; urine magnesium-237.28 ± 34.51 vs 126.25 ± 38.22 mg/24 h, p < 0.001; erythrocyte magnesium-5.09 ± 0.63 vs 6.38 ± 0.75 mg/dl, p < 0.001; plasma zinc-67.56 ± 6.21 vs 98.41 ± 20.47 μg/dl, p < 0.001; urine zinc-1,347.54 ± 158.24 vs 851.65 ± 209.75 μg/24 h, p < 0.001; plasma copper-111.91 ± 20.98 vs 96.33 ± 8.56 μg/dl, p < 0.001; and urine copper-51.70 ± 23.79 vs 36.00 ± 11.70 μg/24 h, p < 0.05. Treatment with metformin for 3 months modified significant erythrocyte magnesium-5.75 ± 0.61 vs 5.09 ± 0.63 mg/dl, p < 0.001 and urine magnesium-198.27 ± 27.07 vs 237.28 ± 34.51 mg/24 h, p < 0.001, whereas it did not modify significant the plasmatic and urinary concentration of the other cations. The erythrocyte magnesium concentration was inversely correlated with HbA1c (r = -0.438, p = 0.015). The plasma level of copper was positively correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.517, p < 0.003), tryglicerides (r = 0.534, p < 0.003), and cholesterol (r = 0.440, p < 0.05), and the plasma level of zinc was inversely correlated with glycemia (r = -0.399, p = 0.029). Our data show a significant action of metformin therapy, by increasing the total intraerythrocyte magnesium concentration and decreasing the urinary magnesium elimination, positively correlated with the decrease of glycemia and HbA1c in NIDDM patients.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanţa, Romania. monicadanielad@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Monica Daniela
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Doşa
authors.forename: Laurentiu-Tony
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Hangan
authors.forename: Eduard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crauciuc
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galeş
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nechifor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002413:Cations, Divalent / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002413:Cations, Divalent; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D014131:Trace Elements; D003300:Copper; D008687:Metformin; D002784:Cholesterol; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc