A comparative study of lead and cadmium concentrations in serum samples of diabetic patients in Al-Najaf governorate, Iraq

Aims: was to investigate the concentration of Cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in different serum samples of diabetic patients and compared them with healthy subjects. Materials & Methods: This case - control study included 25 diabetic patients and 15 apparently healthy non diabetic subjects whose age ranged between 30 - 80 years of both gender. Serum samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Findings: The Cd concentration in diabetic patients was higher than control group with a high statistical significance (p<0. 0001), this was true for the concentration of Cd in diabetic male and female patients which was significantly higher (p< 0.001) than in male and female of control group. While the Pb concentration is significantly lower in diabetic group as compared to healthy group but it was insignificantly (p> 0.05) change in diabetic male and female as compared to healthy male and female persons. The Cd concentration was significantly higher in both type1 and type2 diabetic patients while the concentration of Pb insignificantly changed in those patients. Conclusion: The Cd concentration increased in type1 and type2 diabetic patients of both gender. While concentration of Pb lower in diabetic patients than healthy subjects.