Abstract

Minerals play a considerable role in the prolongation of all biological and psychological processes in the body. The present study was aimed to determine and to compare the concentration of zinc and copper in the serum samples of diabetic and non diabetic males of different age groups, that is, between one to seventy five years. Fasting blood samples of diabetic males as well as of non diabetics of selected age groups were collected for the study. Blood serum was obtained after centrifugation of blood samples. Level of zinc and copper in blood serum samples were determined by using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data obtained was processed statistically by using student’s t- test. A highly significant (p<0.01) lower levels of zinc and a highly significant (p<0.01) higher levels of copper were found in blood serum of diabetic males when they were compared with non-diabetic ones.The results reflect that the diabetic patients had a higher mean concentration of Zn (0.577 ppm), lower mean concentration of Zn (0.467 ppm), higher mean concentration of Cu (2.713 ppm) and lower mean concentration of Cu (2.207 ppm). It has also been represented by our results that the non diabetic males had higher mean concentration of Zn (1.94 ppm), lower mean concentration of Zn (0.937 ppm), higher mean concentration of Cu (1.31 ppm) and lower mean concentration of Cu (1.077 ppm). It has been concluded that the diabetic males of all age groups are deficient of zinc and they contain a higher level of copper in their blood serum.

Key words: Diabetic patients, minerals, blood serum, atomic absorption spectrophotometer.