Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Markers of Insulin Resistance and Lipid Profiles in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on glucose homeostasis parameters and lipid concentrations in PCOS women. We are aware of no study evaluating the effects of zinc supplementation on metabolic profiles of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 52 women diagnosed with PCOS and aged 18–40 years old. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive 220 mg zinc sulfate (containing 50 mg zinc) supplements (n=26) or placebo (n=26) per day for 8 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 8 weeks’ intervention to quantify glucose, insulin and lipid concentrations.

Results: After 8 weeks of intervention, subjects who received zinc supplements had significantly increased serum zinc levels (+15.6±21.8 vs. −4.1±16.7 mg/dL, P=0.001) compared with placebo. In addition, zinc-supplemented patients had reduced fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (−4.3±9.6 vs. +0.5±6.0 mg/dL, P=0.03), serum insulin levels (−3.0±2.9 vs. +1.5±8.4 µIU/mL, P=0.01), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (−0.8±0.8 vs. +0.3±1.9, P=0.006), homeostatic model assessment-Beta cell function (HOMA-B) (−10.6±9.5 vs. +4.9±32.1, P=0.02) and increased quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) (+0.02±0.02 vs. −0.004±0.05, P=0.03) compared with placebo. Additionally, a significant reduction in serum triglycerides (−15.6±40.3 vs. +14.5±25.3 mg/dL, P=0.002) and VLDL-cholesterol concentrations (−3.2±8.1 vs. +2.9±5.1 mg/dL, P=0.002) was observed following the administration of zinc supplements compared with placebo.

Conclusion: Taken together, 220 mg zinc sulfate supplementation per day for 8 weeks among PCOS women had beneficial effects on metabolic profiles.

Key words

zinc - supplementation - polycystic ovary syndrome - insulin metabolism - lipid concentrations

Publication History

Received: 23 December 2014
Received: 05 February 2015

Accepted: 09 March 2015

Article published online:
13 April 2015

• References

• 1 Kabil Kucur S, Gozukara I, Aksoy A. et al. How medical treatment affects mean platelet volume as a cardiovascular risk marker in polycystic ovary syndrome?. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2014 [Epub ahead of print]
• 2 Tosi F, Di Sarra D, Kaufman JM. et al. Total body fat and central fat mass independently predict insulin resistance but not hyperandrogenemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014 jc20142786
• 3 Mehrabian F, Khani B, Kelishadi R. et al. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance according to the phenotypic subgroups of polycystic ovary syndrome in a representative sample of Iranian females. J Res Med Sci 2011; 16: 763-769
• 4 Dokras A, Bochner M, Hollinrake E. et al. Screening women with polycystic ovary syndrome for metabolic syndrome. Obstet Gynecol 2005; 106: 131-137
• 5 Wild S, Pierpoint T, McKeigue P. et al. Cardiovascular disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome at long-term follow-up: a retrospective cohort study. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2000; 52: 595-600
• 6 Cassar S, Teede HJ, Harrison CL. et al. Biomarkers and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS: Characteristics and predictive capacity. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2014; [Epub ahead of print]
• 7 Johnson NP. Metformin use in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Ann Transl Med 2014; 2: 56
• 8 Kelishadi R, Hashemipour M, Adeli K. et al. Effect of zinc supplementation on markers of insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation among prepubescent children with metabolic syndrome. Metab Syndr Relat Disord 2010; 8: 505-510
• 9 Song Y, Wang J, Li XK. et al. Zinc and the diabetic heart. Biometals 2005; 18: 325-332
• 10 Partida-Hernandez G, Arreola F, Fenton B. et al. Effect of zinc replacement on lipids and lipoproteins in type 2-diabetic patients. Biomed Pharmacother 2006; 60: 161-168
• 11 Marreiro DN, Geloneze B, Tambascia MA. et al. Effect of zinc supplementation on serum leptin levels and insulin resistance of obese women. Biol Trace Elem Res 2006; 112: 109-118
• 12 Khan MI, Siddique KU, Ashfaq F. et al. Effect of high-dose zinc supplementation with oral hypoglycemic agents on glycemic control and inflammation in type-2 diabetic nephropathy patients. J Nat Sci Biol Med 2013; 4: 336-340
• 13 Beletate V, El Dib RP, Atallah AN. Zinc supplementation for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007; CD005525
• 14 Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group . Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2004; 81: 19-25
• 15 Ramezani Tehrani F, Minooee S, Azizi F. Validation of a simplified method to assess hirsutism in the Iranian population. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2014; 174: 91-95
• 16 Pisprasert V, Ingram KH, Lopez-Davila MF. et al. Limitations in the Use of Indices Using Glucose and Insulin Levels to Predict Insulin Sensitivity: Impact of Race and Gender and Superiority of the Indices Derived From Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in African Americans. Diabetes Care 2013; 36: 845-853
• 17 Kim J, Lee S. Effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors in obese Korean women. Nutr Res Pract 2012; 6: 221-225
• 18 Hashemipour M, Kelishadi R, Shapouri J. et al. Effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and components of the metabolic syndrome in prepubertal obese children. Hormones (Athens) 2009; 8: 279-285
• 19 Bargiota A, Diamanti-Kandarakis E. The effects of old, new and emerging medicines on metabolic aberrations in PCOS. Ther Adv Endocrinol Metab 2012; 3: 27-47
• 20 Guler I, Himmetoglu O, Turp A. et al. Zinc and homocysteine levels in polycystic ovarian syndrome patients with insulin resistance. Biol Trace Elem Res 2014; 158: 297-304
• 21 Chakraborty P, Ghosh S, Goswami SK. et al. Altered trace mineral milieu might play an aetiological role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome. Biol Trace Elem Res 2013; 152: 9-15
• 22 Adachi Y, Yoshikawa Y, Sakurai H. Antidiabetic zinc(II)-N-acetyl-L-cysteine complex: evaluations of in vitro insulinomimetic and in vivo blood glucose-lowering activities. Biofactors 2007; 29: 213-223
• 23 Gomez-Garcia A, Hernandez-Salazar E, Gonzalez-Ortiz M. et al. Effect of oral zinc administration on insulin sensitivity, leptin and androgens in obese males. Rev Med Chil 2006; 134: 279-284
• 24 Wijesekara N, Chimienti F, Wheeler MB. Zinc a regulator of islet function and glucose homeostasis. Diabetes Obes Metab 2009; 11 (Suppl. 04) 202-214
• 25 Wiernsperger N, Rapin J. Trace elements in glucometabolic disorders: an update. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2010; 2: 70
• 26 Stamatiadis D, Bulteau-Portois MC, Mowszowicz I. Inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase activity in human skin by zinc and azelaic acid. Br J Dermatol 1988; 119: 627-632
• 27 Payahoo L, Ostadrahimi A, Mobasseri M. et al. Effects of zinc supplementation on the anthropometric measurements, lipid profiles and fasting blood glucose in the healthy obese adults. Adv Pharm Bull 2013; 3: 161-165
• 28 Hooper PL, Visconti L, Garry PJ. et al. Zinc lowers high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. JAMA 1980; 244: 1960-1961
• 29 Hughes S, Samman S. The effect of zinc supplementation in humans on plasma lipids, antioxidant status and thrombogenesis. J Am Coll Nutr 2006; 25: 285-291
• 30 Rogalska J, Brzoska MM, Roszczenko A. et al. Enhanced zinc consumption prevents cadmium-induced alterations in lipid metabolism in male rats. Chem Biol Interact 2009; 177: 142-152
• 31 Petering HG, Murthy L, O’Flaherty E. Influence of dietary copper and zinc on rat lipid metabolism. J Agric Food Chem 1977; 25: 1105-1109