Association between diabetes and levels of micro-nutrients in a Middle Eastern population - A case-control study

ObjectiveTo investigate associations between levels of micronutrients and diabetes, controlled and uncontrolled diabetes. MethodsA case-control study, matched on age and gender, was performed on participants with (cases) and without diabetes (controls), who were Qatari or long-term residents. Participants with diabetes were divided into those with controlled and uncontrolled diabetes using an HbA1c cutoff of 7%. Levels of micronutrients were measured from serum and categorized into normal and abnormal levels. ResultsA total of 1118 participants (374 cases and 744 controls) were included with a mean age of 41.7 years (SD 9.9), of whom 53.9% were female. Of those with diabetes, 229 had controlled diabetes and 145 had uncontrolled diabetes. Compared to those without diabetes, participants with diabetes had significantly lower mean magnesium (0.80 mmol/L (SD 0.07) vs 0.84 mmol/L (SD 0.06), respectively, p<0.001). Lower magnesium and iron were observed in participants with uncontrolled compared to participants with controlled diabetes. After multivariable logistic regression, diabetes was associated with hypomagnesemia (OR 3.2, 95% CI 3.4-213.9), and low iron (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.03-2.15). Uncontrolled diabetes showed stronger odds of association with hypomagnesemia (OR 5.57, 95% CI 3.65-8.52). ConclusionIn an affluent setting in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, diabetes was associated with low magnesium and low iron, and this association was worse in individuals with uncontrolled diabetes.