In pre-diabetic adults aged 30-65 does zinc supplementation improve glycemic control over 6 months compared with placebo?

Zinc has been shown to improve blood glucose levels and insulin resistance in diabetic subjects in a small number of animal and human observation and interventional studies. (2-9)To extend the results of these studies, we propose to perform a pilot, double blinded randomised controlled trial in an at risk pre-diabetic adult population in Bangladesh aged 30-65 years to determine if zinc supplementation can reduce blood glucose and insulin resistance compared to placebo over a six months period. Aims To perform a pilot double blinded randomized controlled trial in an at-risk pre-diabetic population aged 30-65 years to determine if zinc supplementation will: 1. reduce impaired glucose tolerance levels 2. reduce insulin resistance 3. increase insulin sensitivity 4. increase pancreatic beta cell function Hypotheses 1. In a pilot double blinded randomised controlled trial of an at-risk pre-diabetic population of those 30-65 years, zinc supplementation (30mg/day) will decrease fasting serum glucose by 5% over six months compared to a placebo treatment. 2. In a pilot double blinded randomised controlled trial of an at-risk pre-diabetic population of those 30-65 years, zinc supplementation (30mg/day) will decrease insulin resistance by 5% over six months compared to a placebo treatment. 3. In a pilot double blinded randomised controlled trial of an at-risk pre-diabetic population of those 30-65 years, zinc supplementation (30mg/day) will increase insulin sensitivity by 5% over six months compared to a placebo treatment. 4. In a pilot double blinded randomised controlled trial of an at-risk pre-diabetic population of those 30-65 years, zinc supplementation (30mg/day) will increase pancreatic beta cell function by 5% over six months compared to a placebo treatment.