Relationship between Serum Zinc Level and Retinopathy in Type 1 Diabetic Patients

Abstract Background Diabetes mellitus is one of the common chronic metabolic diseases associated with various micro- and macro-vascular complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular disorder with various grades which leads to visual problems or even blindness. Nearly all patients with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 have some degree of retinopathy after 20 years. Zinc is one of the micro-nutrients abundant in the human body and possess an important role in various metabolic reactions. Previous studies reported that decreased serum zinc levels was associated with certain diabetic microvascular complications. Zinc depletion has a major impact on the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. However, the correlation between zinc level and diabetic retinopathy needed more studies and especially in type 1diabetic patients which has not been studied at all. AIM/ Objectives Assess the correlation between serum zinc and diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetic patient. Subjects and Methods This observational study was conducted on 60 subjects with their ages ranging from 18-60, selected from diabetes outpatient clinics of Ain Shams University Hospitals for 7 months in a period from June 2022 to January 2023; 40 patients and 20 non diabetic as control divided into three groups: 20 Patients with Type 1 diabetes without diabetic retinopathy, 20 Patients with Type 1 diabetes with diabetic retinopathy and 20 apparently healthy individuals. All patients included in the study will be screened for diabetic retinopathy using fundus photography camera. Photos were assessed and graded by an expert ophthalmologist. Assessment of zinc level by automated chemistry analyzer will be done. Results The study shows that there was statistically significant negative correlation found between zinc level and duration of diabetes, HbA1c, LDL, TC, FPS, 2PP and serum creatinine level in all diabetic type 1 group. And in groups of patients with and without retinopathy. There was no statistically significant difference found between control group and DM type1 with and without retinopathy group regarding zinc level although there was numerical differences. Conclusion Positive relationship between decreased zinc level and diabetic retinopathy suggesting the contribution of this factors in the pathogenesis of DR through acting in a same pathway Further studies using larger numbers of patients are recommended to get benefit of giving zinc supplements to these patients