Assessment of Copper and
Zinc Status in Hair and Urine of Young Female Descendants of NIDDM Parents
he concentration of copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) in hair and urine were studied in young
non-pregnant healthy women for whom both parents were diagnosed for non-insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus (NIDDM descendants) and were compared with those of young healthy
non-pregnant females with no family history of NIDDM or
hypertension (non-NIDDM descendant) and NIDDM patients. The concentration of Zn in hair in
NIDDM descendants was significantly higher than that of non-NIDDM descendants (p<0.001)
and insignificantly higher than that of NIDDM patients. The hair Cu concentrations in
NIDDM descendant and patients were significantly lower than that of non-NIDDM descendants
(p<0.001). Hyperzincurea was detected in some NIDDM patients and hypocuperuria in all
NIDDM descendants and patients. The data suggest that the young healthy NIDDM descendants
possess high-Zn and low-Cu reserves in their bodies, and the observed perturbation appears
to be associated with CU-ZN antagonism. SK Taneja, M Mohajan, S Gupta, KP Singh. Biol
Trace Elem Res 1998;62:255264.
Copyright © 2003 Anamol Laboratories Ltd.
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