Vitamins and trace metals status in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

The status of various vitamins and trace metals in plasma of 100 Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus subjects was compared to those of 112 age and sex matched healthy subjects. The plasma concentration of riboflavin, pyridoxine and folic acid were found to be decreased in the diabetic patients while retinol and ascorbic acid were relatively increased, in comparison to the healthy subjects. However in the Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus subjects the mean plasma concentration of all the metals and vitamins except for riboflavin were within the range of normal values. In spite of these findings, the percent of diabetic patients with various vitamin or metal deficiencies, e.g. riboflavin, carotene, thiamin, retinol, zinc and iron were significantly higher than those in the healthy population. We conclude that vitamin and metal deficiency is common in Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus subjects.