Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Micronutrients are involved in numerous physiological processes at the cellular level. They play an essential role in the synthesis of neurotransmitters, crucial for the brain’s optimal functioning. The aim of our study was to determine the association between micronutrient intake and brain function in type 2 diabetic patients using a validated questionnaire.

Methods: A descriptive analysis was conducted on 115 type 2 diabetics. Each patient underwent a dietary assessment to evaluate their micronutrient’s intake. The Dopamine Norepinephrine Serotonin questionnaire (DNS) is used to assess the impact of diet on brain function. The DNS is validated by the European Institute of Dietetics and Micronutrition (IEDM) and it classify individuals into 4 groups: low score, moderate score, high score, and very high score based on the functional disorders presented by the patients.

Results: The median age of patients was 57,93±7,48 years. The majority of included patients were obese (53.4%). For the DNS score related to dopamine, moderate, high, and very high scores were noted in 30.4%, 19%, and 18.8% of patients, respectively. Regarding norepinephrine, a high score was most observed among patients (36.5%). Low, moderate, and very high scores were noted in 25.2%, 35.7% and 2.6% of patients, respectively. As for serotonin, patients predominantly had a low score (44.3%). Moderate, high, and very high scores were noted in 36.5%, 15.7% and 3.5% of patients, respectively. Negative and significant associations were found between dopamine score and intake of vitamin B9 (P=0.002), magnesium (P=0.003), and copper (P=0.007). Negative and significant associations were found between Noradrenaline score and intake of vitamin C (P=0.046), vitamin B6 (P<0.001), magnesium (P=0.024), and zinc (P=0.009). Negative and significant associations were found between Serotonin score and intake of vitamin B12 (P=0.001), magnesium (P=0.027), and zinc (P=0.047).

Conclusion: As cofactors in neurotransmitter synthesis, Micronutrients influence not only the brain but the entire body functioning. In fact, nourishing the cellular city with a balanced diet help patients particularly type 2 diabetics having optimal brain functioning and long-term prosperity.