The Utility of Zinc Augmentation in Diabetes - A Narrative Review

Diabetes mellitus has sadly become a pandemic, with chronic and debilitating complications which by far are more pronounced in the developing countries of the world. Despite the availability of a wide array of anti-diabetic drugs (both oral and parenteral medications), micro-vascular and macro-vascular diabetes complications are still common. Owing to this sad reality, the place of micronutrients augmentation has come to the frontline of research in diabetes management. Zinc is one of the well-known micro-elements with diverse functions in various physiologic processes in humans. The authors reviewed the role of zinc augmentation in subjects with diabetes generally, both those with complications of diabetes and those without complications. Emphasis was also laid on the modulatory actions of zinc on various diabetes-related processes which include: its anti-oxidant effect; improvement of insulin secretion/sensitivity; increased amylin action; inhibition of gluconeogenesis and atherosclerosis. The impact of zinc supplementation on fasting plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin and lipid indices were also detailed, while a brief overview of the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of zinc was also undertaken.