Diabetes Subjectsan Assessment of Interleukin 18, Copper, Lead and Chromium in Type Ii Diabetes Subjects

¹ Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medicine and Health sciences, Afe Babalola University, Ado ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria

² College of medicine, Osun state University, Osogbo, Osun state

^*Corresponding Author

Odewusi Odeyinka Olufunsho

Department of Medical Laboratory Science

College of Medicine and Health sciences

Afe Babalola University,Ado ekiti, Ekiti state

Nigeria

Email: yinksdadon@yahoo.com

Telephone:+23407030282270

Abstract

Aim: It has been observed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have impaired balance between pro inflammatory and anti infalammatory markers as well as an imbalance between toxic and essential trace metals. The purpose of this research therefore is to assess the levels lead, chromium and serum interleukin- 18 levels in type 2 diabetics.

Methods: Thus, a total of 110 patients were investigated — 40 were either newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus or had been previously diagnosed but had stopped treatment for at least 10 weeks and currently not on drugs, 40 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and on treatment for at least six weeks, and 30 control subjects with normal plasma glucose level. Plasma glucose level, blood lead level, chromium and copper levels and serum interleukin 18 levels were estimated in all groups.

Results: Plasma glucose and serum interleukin 18 levels was significantly high in treated diabetics than in control (P<0.05), blood chromium was significantly higher in control than in treated diabetics (P<0.05), BMI and blood lead levels were insignificantly higher in treated diabetics than in control (P<0.05). In untreated diabetics, plasma glucose, blood lead, serum interleukin-18 and BMI were significantly higher while blood chromium and copper was significantly lower than control (P<0.05). When treated and untreated diabetics were compared, plasma glucose, blood lead and copper, serum interleukin 18 and BMI was significantly higher in the untreated group while blood chromium level was significantly higher in treated diabetics (P<0.05).

Conclusion: It appears that serum interleukin 18 - a pro inflammatory cytokine is higher in diabetes subjects and can be significantly lowered through the intake of antidiabetic drugs, essential metal supplementation and lifestyle modifications over a period of time. This is because, in this research, serum interleukin 18, Lead and Copper levels nosedived with a reduction in plasma glucose levels. This area of study requires further investigation with other antidiabetic drugs. This, on the long run might be economically helpful in designing better and economic treatment protocols with a possibility of better clinical outcomes.

Keywords:Diabetes mellitus, Essential metals, Toxic metals, Interleukin 18

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