Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Micronutrient deficiencies can contribute to the development or exacerbation of gastrointestinal disorders especially in type 2 diabetic patients. The aim of our study was to determine the effect micronutrient status on gastrointestinal symptoms in diabetic patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study. We included 115 type 2 diabetics patients. A dietary survey was conducted for each patient to determine nutrient intake. We used the screening micronutrient deficiencies questionnaire (DDM) ‘’B’’ related to digestive disorders and validated by the European Institute of Dietetics and Micronutrition (IEDM). The patients were classified into 3 groups depending on their score results: high, medium, low scores.

Results: The patients’ median age was 57.93±7.48 years. The majority of the participants were women (67.8%), resulting in a sex ratio of 2.1. The majority of the patients are sedentary (73%). The majority of diabetic patients (58.3%) had high blood pressure. Sixty percent had dyslipidemia. The average duration of type 2 diabetes among patients was 10.94±7.33 years. Microvascular and macrovascular complications were found in 54,8% and 20% of the patients, respectively. High, medium, and low scores were noted in 23,5%; 40,8% and 35,7% of the patients, respectively, using the DDM B. We found negative associations between DDM B score and fiber intake (P<0,001). No significant associations were found between micronutrient intake and the DDM score.

Conclusion: Understanding the relation between gastrointestinal health and nutrition is essential for developing effective strategies for both preventing and managing these conditions.