title: Magnesium, zinc, and chromium levels in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes.
abstract: Several trace elements are involved in insulin signal transduction and glucose metabolism. Our aim for this present study was to determine the levels of three important elements-magnesium, chromium, and zinc-as well as one oxidative stress marker-malondialdehyde (MDA)-in young type 1 diabetic patients at different periods of their growth, and to realize the relationships between trace elements, oxidative stress, and growth stages.
  
  
  
  A total of 88 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in different growth stages and 76 gender- and age-matched healthy subjects were included in this study. The levels of MDA were measured through HPLC using a C-18 column. Zinc, magnesium, and chromium concentrations in serum were assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
  
  
  
  We found higher levels of blood malondialdehyde (MDA; p < 0.001), significantly lower levels of magnesium (p < 0.001), and no differences in zinc and chromium levels (p = 0.153 and 0.515, respectively) in younger type 1 diabetic subjects relative to those of control subjects. Only 3.4% (3/88) of younger diabetic subjects exhibited hypomagnesemia; similar results were obtained when comparing different subgroups: children, adolescents, and adults. We also observed no differences in the levels of the three elements between the genders and among the growth stages (p > 0.05) of the diabetic subjects. There were no correlations between the three trace elements and HbA1C, diabetes duration, and insulin dose/BMI (all p > 0.05), but there was a significant difference between zinc levels and insulin dose/BMI (p = 0.043) in the diabetic patients.
  
  
  
  We found elevated blood MDA, decreased magnesium, and no changes in zinc and chromium levels in younger type 1 diabetic subjects relative to those of control subjects. Only 3.4% of younger diabetic subjects exhibited hypomagnesemia. Whether magnesium supplementation is suitable for improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation will require confirmation through additional studies.
authors.affiliation: Planning Department, Fooyin University Hospital, Pingtung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Chiang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Guey-Ju
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Tsweng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Fa
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bai-Hsiun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: yelihu@kmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yeou-Lih
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002857:Chromium / Q000097:blood*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002857:Chromium; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Chromium; Insulin resistance; Magnesium; Type 1 diabetes; Zinc