title: Is serum zinc associated with pancreatic beta cell function and insulin sensitivity in pre-diabetic and normal individuals? Findings from the Hunter Community Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if there is a difference in serum zinc concentration between normoglycaemic, pre-diabetic and type-2 diabetic groups and if this is associated with pancreatic beta cell function and insulin sensitivity in the former 2 groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study of a random sample of older community-dwelling men and women in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Beta cell function, insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance were calculated for normoglycaemic and prediabetes participants using the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-2) calculator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 452 participants were recruited for this study. Approximately 33% (N = 149) had diabetes, 33% (N = 151) had prediabetes and 34% (N = 152) were normoglycaemic. Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) parameters were found to be significantly different between normoglycaemic and prediabetes groups (p<0.001). In adjusted linear regression, higher serum zinc concentration was associated with increased insulin sensitivity (p = 0.01) in the prediabetic group. There was also a significant association between smoking and worse insulin sensitivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher serum zinc concentration is associated with increased insulin sensitivity. Longitudinal studies are required to determine if low serum zinc concentration plays a role in progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Khanrin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Vashum
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McEvoy
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Abul Hasnat
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Milton
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia ; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Rafiqul
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Attia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011236:Prediabetic State / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D015032:Zinc