Affiliations: School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumers Science,
North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom, South Africa
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Du Toit Loots, Department of
Nutrition, School of Physiology, Nutrition and Consumers Sciences, Faculty of
Health Sciences, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom
2520, South Africa. Tel.: +27 18 299 2469; Fax: +27 18 299 2464; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Epidemiological evidence, associating diabetes with zinc (Zn)
deficiencies, has resulted in numerous research studies describing the effects
of Zn and associated metallothionein (MT), on reducing diabetic complications
associated with oxidative stress. MT has been found to have a profound effect
on the reduction of oxidative stress induced by the diabetic condition. Over
expression of MT in various metabolic organs has also been shown to reduce
hyperglycaemia-induced oxidative stress, organ specific diabetic complications,
and DNA damage in diabetic experimental animals, which have been further
substantiated by the results from MT-knockout mice. Additionally,
supplementation with Zn has been shown to induce in vivo MT synthesis in
experimental animals and to reduce diabetes related complications in both
humans and animal models. Although the results are promising, some caution
regarding this topic is however necessary, due to the fact that the majority of
the studies done have been animal based. Hence more human intervention trials
are needed regarding the positive effects of MT and Zn before firm conclusions
can be made regarding their use in the treatment of diabetes.
