The Role of Zinc in Treating Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

Abstract

Chronic hyperglycemia status noticed in diabetes mellitus favors the manifestation of oxidative stress by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species and/or by reducing the antioxidant defense system activity, some minerals are essential parts of some of the enzymes for their biological activities. Diabetes mellitus is a disease of metabolic abnormality, minerals as such or as a component of enzymes may play a significant role in developing and controlling diabetes mellitus. Amongst minerals, zinc is involved in the development and control of diabetes mellitus. Zinc has been shown to have an antioxidant potential through the nonenzymatic stabilization of biomembrane and biostructures. A recent finding indicated that there is a direct relationship between low zinc levels, greater body fat content, and insulin resistance.