EVALUATION OF THE SERUM LEVELS OF SOME TRACE ELEMENTS AND ANTIOXIDANT LEVELS IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS WITH FAMILY HISTORY OF TYPE 2 DIABETES IN NNEWI, NIGERIA

There is a paucity of data on studies evaluating trace elements and antioxidant levels and susceptibility of offspring of diabetic parents to type 2 diabetes in Nigerian population. This study evaluated the serum level of some trace elements and antioxidants among apparently healthy individuals with a family history of type2 diabetes mellitus (FH-T2DM). This was a cross-sectional study involving 122 Students (aged between 18-30 years) consisting of 60 apparently healthy subjects with FH-T2DM and 62 apparently healthy subjects without FH-T2DM. Serum levels of Cr, Zn, Se, and Mn and catalase and superoxide dismutase of these subjects were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometric technique and spectrophotometric technique, respectively. The plasma glucose, body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences, and a waist-to-hip ratio of these subjects were also determined using standard methods. Results from this study showed that mean fasting plasma glucose level was significantly higher (p=0.001); serum levels of Cr was significantly lower (p=0.04) while serum levels of Zn, Mn, Se, SOD and Catalase did not differ significantly (p>0.05) in those with FH-T2DM when compared with those without the FH-T2DM. There were no significant differences in the BMI (P = 0.236), WHR (P=0.794) between FH-T2DM and those without FH-T2DM. However, selenium was significantly higher in male offspring of diabetic mothers compared to female offspring of diabetic fathers (p=0.015), and catalase was significantly lower in males from diabetic mothers compared to males from diabetic fathers (p=0.009). This finding may imply that males from diabetic mothers may be at a greater risk of developing diabetes in the future, considering the respective roles of the trace elements and antioxidants in glucose metabolism.