EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF ZINC AS ADD-ON THERAPY ON GLYCAEMIC CONTROL AND SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF NEUROPATHY IN THE PATIENTS WITH DIABETES MELLITUS

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy occurs in about half of the individuals with long-standing diabetes manifested as polyneuropathy, mononeuropathy and autonomic neuropathy. There is evidence indicating the involvement of zinc in diabetes. Aim: To evaluate the effect of Zinc as add-on therapy in Diabetic Neuropathy on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and glycaemic control. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology at Sarojini Naidu Medical College and associated Hospital Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 105 patients of either type-1 or type-2 diabetes mellitus with complication of diabetic neuropathy were included and divided randomly into control and study groups of 52 and 53 patients each. Control group received standard anti-diabetic therapy plus Pregabalin 75 mg/day and Methylcobalamin 1500 mcg/day, while the participants of study group received standard anti-diabetic therapy plus Pregabalin 75 mg/day and Methylcobalamin 1500 mcg/day plus Zinc acetate 50mg/day as add-on therapy. Symptoms and signs of sensory-motor neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction and neuropathy were recorded at baseline and on subsequent follow up at 3 months and 6 months. Simultaneously laboratory parameters such as fasting blood sugar and post prandial blood sugar were measured. Results: There were statistically insignificant differences in paraesthesia, hypoesthesia, cramps, palpitation, constipation or diarrhoea in the study group at 3^rd and 6^th months of follow-up (p>0.05). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in the fasting blood sugar at the follow up at 6^th month. Conclusions: Oxidative stress is a common pathological factor of diabetic complications and zinc supplementation appears to have some role in the glycaemic control of diabetic patients.