title: Zinc supplementation improves anticancer activity of monocytes in type-2 diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transmembrane tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, found on monocytes, is a body's key defense against cancer. In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome, immunity is suppressed, resulting in a high risk of several inflammatory disorders and cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen patients with type 2 DM and metabolic syndrome were supplemented with either 30 mg of elemental zinc/day or placebo for eight weeks. Transmembrane TNF-α-expressing monocytes and lymphocytes, and plasma TNF-α levels were analyzed before and after supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study revealed that zinc supplementation significantly increased the proportion of monocytes expressing transmembrane TNF-α. While the plasma TNF-α levels and TNF-α expressing lymphocytes were not significantly altered in the zinc-treated and placebo groups, higher proportion of TNF-α bound monocytes were observed in the zinc-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because functional transmembrane TNF-α was shown to be implicated in defense mechanisms, these findings suggest that zinc supplementation may benefit immune response against cancer in patients with DM and metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Cell-based Drug and Health Product Development Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand. pithi_chan@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kulwara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meksawan
authors.forename: Urairat
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sermsri
authors.forename: Pithi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chanvorachote
mesh_terms: D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011379:Prognosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Metabolic syndrome; monocyte; transmembrane TNF-α; type 2 diabetes; zinc