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Influence of Therapy with Metformin on the Concentration of Certain Divalent Cations in Patients with Non-insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

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Abstract

Research was performed on a group of 30 patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), who never received antidiabetic medication before, and on a group of 17 healthy adults. The patients were administered treatment with metformin, 1,000 mg/day. Plasmatic and urinary concentration of magnesium have been measured, copper and zinc along with the concentrations of glucose, HDL, LDL, cholesterol, tryglicerides, HbA1c, and total erythrocyte magnesium, in advance and after 3 months of treatment. Data showed significant differences in the NIDDM group vs the control group: for plasma magnesium—1.95 ± 0.19 vs 2.20 ± 0.18 mg/dl, p < 0.001; urine magnesium—237.28 ± 34.51 vs 126.25 ± 38.22 mg/24 h, p < 0.001; erythrocyte magnesium—5.09 ± 0.63 vs 6.38 ± 0.75 mg/dl, p < 0.001; plasma zinc—67.56 ± 6.21 vs 98.41 ± 20.47 μg/dl, p < 0.001; urine zinc—1,347.54 ± 158.24 vs 851.65 ± 209.75 μg/24 h, p < 0.001; plasma copper—111.91 ± 20.98 vs 96.33 ± 8.56 μg/dl, p < 0.001; and urine copper—51.70 ± 23.79 vs 36.00 ± 11.70 μg/24 h, p < 0.05. Treatment with metformin for 3 months modified significant erythrocyte magnesium—5.75 ± 0.61 vs 5.09 ± 0.63 mg/dl, p < 0.001 and urine magnesium—198.27 ± 27.07 vs 237.28 ± 34.51 mg/24 h, p < 0.001, whereas it did not modify significant the plasmatic and urinary concentration of the other cations. The erythrocyte magnesium concentration was inversely correlated with HbA1c (r = −0.438, p = 0.015). The plasma level of copper was positively correlated with HbA1c (r = 0.517, p < 0.003), tryglicerides (r = 0.534, p < 0.003), and cholesterol (r = 0.440, p < 0.05), and the plasma level of zinc was inversely correlated with glycemia (r = −0.399, p = 0.029). Our data show a significant action of metformin therapy, by increasing the total intraerythrocyte magnesium concentration and decreasing the urinary magnesium elimination, positively correlated with the decrease of glycemia and HbA1c in NIDDM patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacology Department, School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanţa, University Alley No. 2, 900470, Constanţa, Romania

    Monica Daniela Doşa

  2. Gr.T.Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania

    Monica Daniela Doşa

  3. Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Ovidius University of Constanţa, Constanţa, Romania

    Laurentiu-Tony Hangan

  4. Obstetric Gynecology Department, UMF GR.T.Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania

    Eduard Crauciuc

  5. Hystology Department, GR.T.Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania

    Cristina Galeş

  6. Pharmacology Department, UMF GR.T.Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania

    Mihai Nechifor

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  1. Monica Daniela Doşa
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  2. Laurentiu-Tony Hangan
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Correspondence to Monica Daniela Doşa.

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Doşa, M.D., Hangan, LT., Crauciuc, E. et al. Influence of Therapy with Metformin on the Concentration of Certain Divalent Cations in Patients with Non-insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Biol Trace Elem Res 142, 36–46 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-010-8751-9

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