Low dietary zinc intake attenuates the efficacy of 2,4-thiazolidinedione on reducing hyperglycemia in db/db mice (Short communication).

Zinc (Zn) has the potential of regulating the action of thiazolidinedione (TZD), an anti-diabetic drug. Since some diabetic patients cannot achieve optimal glycemic control when receiving TZD, we investigated if Zn deficiency affects TZD's efficacy in glucose metabolism. Diabetic mice were fed diets containing 3 or 30 mg/kg Zn for 6 weeks. Thereafter, all mice were oral gavaged with 2,4-thiazolidinedione. Our results showed that blood glucose values at fasting and during the glucose tolerance test were significantly higher in low-Zn mice than those of adequate-Zn mice. Thus, low Zn intake may attenuate TZD's efficacy on reducing diabetic hyperglycemia.