Zinc As A Factor Affecting Serum Calcification Propensity in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Abstract Background: Zinc inhibits vascular calcification in vivo and in vitro. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus show hypozincemia and are at an elevated risk of cardiovascular events. Recently, the in vitro test (T50-test) was developed for the determination of serum calcification propensity. This cross-sectional study investigated the association between serum zinc and T50 in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and the effect of zinc on T50in vitro.Methods: The subjects were 132 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with various kidney function. We measured T50 levels by the established nephelometric method.Results: The median (interquartile range) levels of T50 and serum zinc were 306 (269 to 332) min, and 80.0 (70.1 to 89.8) µg/dL, respectively. Serum zinc level was significantly and positively correlated with T50 (rs = 0.219, p = 0.012). This association remained significant in multivariable-adjusted analysis, and was independent of known factors including phosphate, calcium, and magnesium. Renal function and glycemic control were not significantly associated with T50. Finally, addition of physiological concentration of exogenous zinc chloride significantly increased the serum T50 in vitro.Conclusions: This is the first report to investigate the association between serum calcification propensity and zinc levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Our data suggest that serum zinc is an independent factor that inhibits serum calcification propensity.