Concentrations of seven trace elements in different hematological matricesin patients with type 2 diabetes as compared to healthy controls

This study aimed to compare the trace element status of patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 53) with those of nondiabetic healthy controls (n = 50). Th e concentrations of se iron trace elements were determined in the whole blo od, blood plasma, erythrocytes, and lymphocytes of the study subjects. Vana dium and iron levels in lymphocytes were significantly higher in diabetic p atients as compared to controls (p < 0.05 for iron and p < 0.01 for vanadiu m). In contrast, lower manganese (p < 0.01) and selenium (p < 0.01) concent rations were detected in lymphocytes derived from patients with type 2 diab etes versus healthy subjects. Furthermore, significantly lower chromium lev els (p < 0.05) were found in the plasma of diabetic individuals as compared to controls. Trace element concentrations were not dependent on the degree of glucose control as determined by correlation analysis between HBA(1c) v ersus metal levels in the four blood fractions, in summary, this study prim arily demonstrated that trace element levels in lymphocytes of patients wit h type 2 diabetes could deviate significantly from controls, whereas, in ge neral, no considerable differences could be found when comparing the other fractions between both patient groups. Therefore, it seems reasonable to an alyze metal levels in leukocytes to determine trace element status in patie nts with type 2 diabetes and perhaps in other diseases.