Effects of combination of zinc and vitamin A supplementation on serum fasting blood sugar, insulin, apoprotein B and apoprotein A-I in patients with type I diabetes.

Background And Aim: There is accumulating evidence that shows the metabolism of zinc and vitamin A are altered in diabetes mellitus type I (DMTI), thus the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of combination of zinc and vitamin A supplementation on serum fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, apoprotein B and apoprotein A-I in patients with DMTI.

Design: Forty-eight, 7-year-old to 20-year-old patients with at least 2 years of DMTI history, without any metabolic condition or medicine intake with insulin treatment, participated in a randomized double-blind clinical trial for 12 weeks. They were divided into zinc and vitamin A (VAZ)-supplemented (10 mg elemental zinc per day and one-half of a 25,000 IU vitamin A tablet every other day) and/or placebo groups after matching for sex, age and DMTI duration. Nutrient intake was estimated using 24 h recall and was analyzed by food processor program. Serum apoproteins B and A-I, FBS and insulin levels were determined at the beginning and end of the trial.

Results: There was significant increase in apoprotein A-I (P < 0.0001) and a significant decrease in apoprotein B (P < 0.0001) and apoprotein B/apoprotein A-I ratio (P < 0.0001) at the end of the study compared with baseline values in the VAZ group but apoprotein A-I had a significant increase (P < 0.0001) and the apoprotein B/apoprotein A-I ratio had a significant decrease (P = 0.02) at the end of study in the VAZ group compared with the control group

Conclusion: It seems that combined zinc and vitamin A supplementation can improve serum apoprotein A-I, apoprotein B and the apoprotein B/apoprotein A-I ratio in patients with DMTI.