2016 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 1-7
Imbalances of the essential trace elements magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) have recently been reported to play a role in disorders of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and microalbuminuria. The present study was performed to investigate the distribution and reference of serum values Mg and Zn and the ratios of urinary Mg to creatinine (Mg/Cre), urinary Zn to creatinine (Zn/Cre), albumin to creatinine (ACR) in spot morning urine, as well as the estimated daily dietary consumption of Mg (D-Mg) and Zn (D-Zn) among 156 older community dwellers (96 males, 60 females) with a mean age of 65.1±6.7 y.o., ranging from 40 to 74 years. The relationships between Mg/Cre and ACR, Zn/Cre and ACR, Mg/Cre and D-Mg and Zn/Cre and D-Zn were also determined. Serum Zn and D-Zn showed normal distribution. Serum Mg, Mg/Cre, Zn/Cre and D-Mg showed positive skewed leptokurtic distribution. ACR showed logarithmic normal distribution. There were weak positive significant relationship between log-transformed ACR and Zn/Cre (r=0.203, p<0.05) and ultra-weak positive significant relationship between D-Mg and Mg/Cre (r=0.158, p<0.05). The results suggest that Zn can leak into urine at the early stage of microalbuminuria, associated with logarithmic ACR value. The homeostatic regulation of Mg/Cre was disturbed by the degree of early-stage microalbuminuria. Although there is a concomitant increase of urinary Mg excretion with D-Mg, the same was not observed for Zn excretion. These findings will update the urinary Mg and Zn information of older community dwellers of the National Health Insurance System through the Health Checkups and Healthcare Advice Focusing on Metabolic Syndrome (Tokutei Kenshin Hokenshido) program in Japan, and will contribute to further research into the relation between their disturbance and microalbuminuria associated with metabolic syndrome.
