Serum Zinc, Copper and Ceruloplasmin Levels in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Our objective was to investigate the possible alterations in serum zinc, copper and ceruloplasmin levels in type 2 diabetes. Fifty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (23 male, 27 female) who were being treated and followed by Gazi University Internal Medicine Obesity and Diabetes Clinic and 30 healthy volunteers (12 male, 18 female) were included in the study. Serum zinc and copper levels were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity was determined spectrophotometrically. While zinc levels of female diabetics were found to be significantly lower than female control group, there were no significant differences neither between male patients and male controls, nor between patient group and control group. There was no statistically significant difference in serum copper levels between patient and control groups. However, in both groups, copper levels of female subjects were found significantly higher than males. Ceruloplasmin oxidase activities were higher in patient group compared with controls and both in male and female patient groups compared with their respective controls. There was a positive correlation between serum copper and ceruloplasmin oxidase activity. These results imply that serum ceruloplasmin oxidase activity in type 2 diabetic patients and zinc levels in female type 2 diabetics show important alterations.