Abstract

EVALUATION OF C-REACTIVE PROTEIN, SELENIUM AND GLYCOSYLATED HAEMOGLOBIN LEVELS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING METABOLIC CLINIC IN THE FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE, OWERRI, IMO STATE.

Nwosu,D.C.,Nwanjo,H.U.,Opara,A.U., Ofor,I.B.,Obeagu, Emmanuel Ifeanyi*, Ugwu,G.U., Ojiegbe,G.C., Nnorom,R.M., Nwokike,G.I., Okpara,K.E., Ochei,K.C.,

ABSTRACT

C-reactive protein, selenium, and HbAlc levels were evaluated in diabetes mellitus patients attending metabolic clinic in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State. Two hundred (200) subjects (120 diabetics (tests) and 80 non diabetic,( controls) were recruited for the study, all in the age group of 20 to 60 years. Samples were analysed using appropriate analytical methods and the statistical analysis was performed on Statistical Package forocial Science (SPSS) Windows version 20.0. Test of significance was determined using thestudent's t-test and the statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The results were expressed as Mean ± SD. The study showed a sadistically significant (p<0.05) increase in Creactive protein (mg/dL), and HbAlc (%), thus: (1.39±0.37 and 7.3±0.87) in the tests compared to the controls (0.54±043 and 5.2±0.7) respectively. Conversely, a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in the serum selenium (mcg/dL) levels of the test subjects (4.6±1.43) compared to the non-diabetic controls (10.7±1.7) was observed. This present study therefore, concluded that serum selenium levels plays a key role in the activation of the body's "Master" antioxidant defense system in diabetes mellitus, and that gender (sex) and age (years) had no effect on the assayed parameters. The routine evaluation of C-reactive protein, serum selenium and HbAlc in the management of diabetes mellitus, is therefore recommended.

Keywords: C-reactive protein, Selenium, and Glycosylated haemoglobin and Diabetic patients.