Background & objectives: Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder resulting from insulin deficiency or resistance. One of the most common problem in diabetic patients is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease which induced by hyperlipidemia. Primary strategies for prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease are lowering of the lipids level by food and drugs. Zinc as an essential trace element may affect plasma lipid status . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of zinc on the levels of plasma lipids in patients with type II diabetes.

  Methods: In this clinical trial study, 60 diabetic patients were divided in two groups. The first group received 25 mg/kg/day zinc and second group received 50 mg/kg/day zinc for 8 week. The levels of fasting serum lipids, lipoproteins and zinc were evaluated in each group before and after administration of zinc. SPSS software (V.11.5) and t-test were used for statistical analysis.

  Results: In the study procedure in each group 8 patients were excluded and 22 patients completed the study. There were not significant changes in the levels of zinc and serum lipids between before and after zinc treatment in the first group (25 mg/kg/day). The serum levels of zinc significantly increased after administration of 50 mg/kg/day zinc in the second group (160 ± 30 μg/dL vs 140 ± 30, p = 0.002). There also were significant changes in the levels of LDL-Cholesterol, total cholesterol before and after zinc supplementation in the second group (50 mg/kg/day). LDL significantly reduced after supplementation (123.9±33.53 vs 96.5±32.50, p=0.001), cholesterol reduced (226.68±31.40 vs 199.8 ±37.8 p=0.001), HbA1C reduced after zinc supplementation (9.7±1.86 vs8.9±1.5, p=0.02).

  Conclusion: It seems that Zinc at higher doses (50 mg/kg/day) is effective to decrease the levels of serum lipids and glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic patients.