Measurement of Plasma Levels of Magnesium, Triglycerides, and Total Cholesterol in Sudanese Patients with Controlled and Uncontrolled Type2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

A cross- sectiona comparative study, conducted during the period from January to July 2010, compared the plasma levels of magnesium, triglycerides and total cholesterol of 60 Sudanese patients suffering from type2 diabetes mellitus as a diabetic test group; 30 of them were controlled diabetics (test group A) and 30 were uncontrolled diabetics (test group B) in addition to 30 apparently healthy volunteers as a control group. All Participants in this study were from Khartoum State. The test groups (A&B) and the control group were matched for age. The levels of the plasma magnesium, triglycerides and total cholesterol were determined in fasting blood samples using a spectrophotometer and reagents from Biosystem company. The means of the plasma levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly raised but the mean of the magnesium levels was significantly reduced in both of the test groups (A&B) when compared to the control group (P.Value <0.05). In reference to control of diabetes, the mean of the plasma levels of magnesium was significantly reduced in the test group (B) when compared to the test group (A) (P.Value = 0.00), whereas the two groups, showed no significant difference between the means of plasma triglycerides but the mean of total cholesterol was significantly raised in the test group (B) compared to test group (A) In the diabetic test group (n= 60) the plasma levels of magnesium showed a significantly weak negative correlation, While total cholesterol and triglycerides showed insignificant week positive correlation with the duration of diabetes mellitus. The test group showed a significant weak negative correlation between the plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides with the plasma levels of magnesium and that of total cholesterol and triglycerides. From the results of the present study it is concluded that: in Sudanese patients with type2 diabetes mellitus, the plasma levels of magnesium are reduced, whereas that of total cholesterol and triglycerides are raised. Uncontrolled diabetics are at a higher risk of hypomagnesaemia and Hyperlipidemia compared to controlled diabetics.