Plasma concentrations of leptin and selected minerals do not differ in Type 2 diabetic patients with or without sulfonylurea inefficacy

The oral hypoglycemic agent sulfonylurea (SU) can increase plasma leptin concentrations. Additionally, diabetic subjects frequently have an altered plasma status of selected minerals. However, whether these described plasma parameters are changed in Type 2 diabetic patients who exhibit SU inefficacy has not yet been evaluated. In this preliminary study, fasting blood samples were collected from 16 Type 2 diabetic patients with secondary SU failure. As controls, 16 sex-, age- and adiposity-matched diabetic patients, who had similar diabetic duration and optimal glycemic control by SU, were also recruited. The results show that plasma values of leptin, C-peptide, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc did not significantly differ in these diabetic patients with or without secondary SU failure. However, the gender effect on plasma leptin level and the correlations between leptin and adiposity and C-peptide were retained. This study indicates that there is no relation between SU inefficacy and the plasma status of leptin and selected minerals.