BONE-MINERAL CONTENT, 25-HYDROXYCALCIFEROL AND ZINC SERUM LEVELS IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT (TYPE-I) DIABETIC-PATIENTS

To determine the relationship between bone mineral content (BMC), 25-Hydroxycalciferol (250HD) and zinc serum levels in young insulin-dependent diabetics, we performed photon absortiometry on a poorly controled group of 22 patients. Zinc, 250HD and alkaline phosphatase were measured in fasting serum. Ca, P, Mg, glucose and cAMP were determined in serum and in 24 hours urine collection. The diabetic group showed a significant decrease in BMC (< 0.001) with raised urinary excretion rate of calcium (p < 0.001). On the other hand, serum levels of zinc and 250HD showed a significant decrease (p < 0.001, both). We found a positive and significant correlation between glycosuria and urinary excretion rate of calcium (r = 0.77; p < 0.001) and negative one for 250HD and urinary excretion rate of calcium (r--0.77;p < 0.001). We conclude that decreased zinc and 250HD serum levels in poorly controled insulin-dependent (Type I) diabetic patients, in addition to raised urinary excretion rate of calcium, as result of the osmotic diuresis, contribute to bone loss in these patients