Urinary loss of micronutrients in diabetic patients attending a tertiary hospital service

Background/aims: micronutrient deficiency may contribute to a poorer control of diabetes. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the urinary excretion of micronutrients in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: patients with diabetes and controls were assessed regarding food intake, anthropometry, urinary loss of micronutrients and compared by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05). Results: nine diabetic volunteers (52+/-14 years, BMI 30+/-11 kg/m(2) and abdominal circumference (AC) of 99+/-25 cm) and 9 control individuals (51+/-16 years, BMI 26+/-5 kg/m(2) and AC of 90+/-13 cm) were studied. Higher iron excretion was observed in the diabetic group and higher magnesium excretion in the control group. Conclusions: the type 2 diabetic patients here studied did not show increased micronutrient excretion in urine when compared to controls.