Mineral Deficiency Associated with Complications of Impaired Blood Sugar

by CP Staff

According to a new study, diabetes-related kidney disease is associated with a deficiency of a particular mineral. Diabetes, which affects 23.7 million Americans, is the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. The American Diabetes Association reports that in 2005, 44 percent of new cases of kidney failure were due to diabetes. Research indicates that the risk of developing kidney disease can be reduced by improved control of blood sugar and blood pressure in diabetics. Symptoms of diabetic kidney disease include fluid retention, loss of sleep, poor appetite, upset stomach, difficulty concentrating and generalized weakness.

In this recently published study, investigators evaluated blood levels of copper and magnesium in subjects with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease). The subjects included 40 patients with diabetic nephropathy and 40 healthy individuals to serve as the control group. In addition to blood levels of copper and magnesium, the subjects were also evaluated for fasting blood sugar; postprandial (after eating) blood sugar; hemoglobin A1c, a measurement of blood sugar control over the previous 3 months; and microalbumin, a measurement of kidney function.

The results showed that fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, and microalbumin levels were significantly higher in the subjects with diabetic nephropathy compared to the control group. The study also found that blood magnesium levels were significantly lower in the subjects with diabetic kidney disease, compared with the control group. The researchers did not find an association between copper levels and diabetic nephropathy.

The study authors stated, “The findings in the present study suggest that hypomagnesemia [low magnesium] may be linked with development of diabetic nephropathy.”

Reference:

Prabodh S, Prakash DS, Sudhakar G, Chowdary NV, Desai V, Shekhar R. Status of Copper and Magnesium Levels in Diabetic Nephropathy Cases: a Case-Control Study from South India. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Jun 16. Published Online Ahead of Print.