Abstract
Minerals play an important role in the glucose metabolism and energy production in the cells. Abnormalities of mineral metabolism have been associated with the increased mortality in patients of chronic kidney disease but their effects in renal dialysis patients are less characterized. In this study, we examined the associations between levels of minerals (serum calcium, phosphorus and magnesium) and HbA1c in diabetic and non-diabetic renal dialysis patients. Blood samples were collected from 76Saudi renal dialysis patients with diabetic (age 51.28 +/- 20.85 years) and non-diabetic (age 52.05 +/- 18.84 years) subjects and biochemical analysis were performed using biochemical kits. Expectedly no significant relationship was observed (p>0.05) in baseline parameters such as age, sodium, potassium, bilirubin, creatinine, urea and glucose, in diabetic and non-diabetic renal dialysis patients. The study also showed that there was no significant relationship (p>0.05) between calcium and phosphorus, calcium and magnesium as well as magnesium and phosphorusin non-diabetic renal dialysis patients; however, in diabetic patients calcium and phosphorus have minor significant association (p=0.057) with increased levels of phosphorus, while calcium and magnesium showed strong significant relationship (p<0.05). Moreover, no significant relationship (p>0.05) was shown between magnesium and phosphorus even with increased level of phosphorus. Further, there was no significant relationship (p>0.05) between phosphorus and HbA1c in both types of renal dialysis patients. However, in diabetic renal dialysis patients there was significant relationship (p<0.05) betweencalcium and HbA1c as well as magnesium and HbA1c. These preliminary results prompted us to cautiously predict a supportive role of calcium, magnesium and Hb1Ac in better diagnosis and management of diabetes which could be helpful to alleviate some of the low energy associated weakness symptoms in the diabetic patients by calcium and magnesium supplementation.