Impact of Trace Element Changes on Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate in Healthy and Diabetic States among Middle-Age and Elderly Egyptians

Abstract

The aim of this study was to confirm if there is a link between the alteration in blood levels of trace elements (chromium, copper, lead, cadmium, and zinc) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in healthy and diabetic states. This study is the first study to test these parameters in Egyptians. The study included 150 subjects divided into the following four groups: healthy middle-aged, healthy elderly, middle-aged diabetics, and elderly diabetics. Our results revealed a statistically significant decrease in the level of DHEAS in the elderly compared to middle-aged healthy and diabetic groups (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the middle-aged groups with respect to zinc, copper, chromium, and cadmium levels. Zinc and copper were lower in the diabetic subjects while chromium and cadmium were higher in the same group in comparison to healthy subjects. In the elderly groups, there were significant increases in chromium and cadmium levels in diabetic subjects rather than healthy ones. There was a significant increase in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance level in the elderly healthy and diabetic groups and a significant decrease in the glutathione level in the elderly groups. There was no correlation between the levels of trace elements and DHEAS or between the levels of DHEAS, oxidants, and antioxidants in all of the tested groups. In conclusion, only the DHEAS level was correlated with age. There was no difference between the diabetic and healthy groups with respect to the levels of trace elements, with the exception of chromium and cadmium, which suggests the effect of pollution on the pathogenesis of diabetes in Egyptians. No correlation existed between the levels of DHEAS and trace elements, oxidants, and antioxidants. Finally, we believe that there is a large regional variation in the levels of trace elements due to different environmental exposure and nutritional factors which are responsible for contradictory results regarding the pathogenesis of diseases related to alterations in the levels of trace elements.

Analysis of the relationship between the blood concentration of several metals, macro- and micronutrients and endocrine disorders associated with male aging

“…El Husseiny et al (2011) did not observe relationships between examined by them trace elements (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr) and the concentration of DHEAS among middle-aged and elderly Egyptians. They showed that age was a major factor in the decrease in DHEAS.…”

Association between cadmium exposure and diabetes mellitus risk: a prisma-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Thirty full-text articles were reviewed for further assessment. Five articles were excluded because they were duplicate publications [ 14 , 15 , 22 , 24 , 28 ]; another five were excluded because Cd content was measured [ 33 – 37 ], three studies were excluded because the outcome was gestational diabetes mellitus [ 17 , 18 , 25 ], three were reviews [ 38 – 40 ], two were excluded because outcomes were related to chronic kidney disease [ 41 ] or renal glomerular damage [ 42 ] and one was excluded because the exposure was Cd in the toenail [ 13 ]. Finally, eleven studies met meta-analysis criteria and were included (Figure 1 ).…”

Effect of zinc supplementation on blood glucose level in different age groups of diabetes type 2

“…Hwalla et al in 2017 and others revealed the absorption of Zinc is lower and compromised in the elderly especially those aged above 60 (Gunasekara et al, 2011) Zn supplementation is necessary as a nutrient for a good quality of life in the elderly (Haase and Rink, 2009; Ijaz et al, 2020; Intorre et al, 2008). El Husseiny et al (2011) observed a significant effect of zinc supplementation on diabetic patients in older age groups. Participants of age ≤50 showed stable plasma zinc (70 ± 32 µg/100 mL), and above this age, the levels were reduced (Jeppsson et al, 2002).…”

“…Blood sample was taken from the participants with an empty stomach. Blood was collected using EDTA (ATLAS-Labovac) tube for HbA1c (El Husseiny et al, 2011) and serum zinc blood in a gel tube (Ervin and Kennedy-Stephenson, 2002). A structured questionnaire was used to conduct the demographic data which included age, gender, family history of diabetes, any complication regarding diabetes, pregnancy or lactating female, CVDs and supplementation.…”