Clinical Research in Diabetes and Endocrinology • Vol 3 • Issue 1 • 2020 1 INTRODUCTION T he significance of zinc (Zn) in human nutrition and public health has recently gained focus due to its proven beneficial impacts and applications. Ensuring adequate levels of zinc intake should be a key concern in efforts to reduce morbidity and mortality. Zinc is a key component of several enzymes and hormones in humans and plants. [1] As an important trace element and micronutrient, Zn plays a key role ORIGINAL ARTICLE Metabolic and Anthropometric Impacts of Zinc- Supplemented Diet on Lipid Profile and Body Mass Index in Obese Diabetic Rats Magnus Michael Chukwudike Anyakudo 1,2 , Toluwanimi Oludiran-Ayoade 2 1 Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition Research Unit, Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, P.M.B 536, Laje Road, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria, 2 Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria ABSTRACT Background: Findings on the effects of zinc supplementation on lipid profile (LP) in type 2 diabetic human subjects and animals are conflicting. However, reports of nutritional studies on the relationship of body mass index (BMI), LP, and obesity are well established. This experimentally controlled designed study aimed to determine the metabolic and anthropometric effects of zinc-supplemented diet on LP and BMI in obese diabetic and non-diabetic rats and to correlate the association between BMI and serum triglycerides (TGs). Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing 300–350g were categorized into three experimental groups (n = 8, each): Obese diabetic rats on zinc-supplemented diet (diabetic treated [DZSD]); obese diabetic rats on normal diet (diabetic control [DCD]) as DCD; and obese non-diabetic rats (normal control [NCD]) on normal diet as NCD. Obesity and diabetes were inducted, respectively, with hyperlipidemic diet and alloxan monohydrate (150 mg/ kg bw. peritoneally). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) values >150 mg/dL were considered diabetic. Animals were fed according to the experimental design for 8 weeks. Body weight and nasoanal length used to determine the BMI were measured weekly throughout the study. Blood samples were taken for LP analysis. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and statistical program SPSS version 22 while correlation between BMI and serum TG was determined using Pearson correlation test. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean weight gain (%) and the mean BMI (g/cm 2 ) decreased significantly in DZSD rats (bw – 16.02%, P = 0.03; BMI – 0.71 ± 0.01, P = 0.02) compared with the DCD rats (bw – 26.28%; BMI – 0.76 ± 0.12). Serum concentrations of TG (10.75 mg/dL), total cholesterol (TC) (16.78 mg/dL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (6.51 mg/dL) decreased while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration (8.12 mg/dL) increased significantly (P < 0.05) in treated rats compared with the DCD rats (TG – 12.35 mg/dL; TC – 18.89 mg/dL; LDL – 10.23 mg/dL; and HDL – 6.19 mg/ dL). A significant (P = 0.023) positive correlation (r = 0.069) exists between serum TGs and BMI. Conclusion: Dietary zinc supplementation impacts beneficial metabolic and anthropometric effects on BMI and LP in obese diabetic rats. Key words: Body mass index, lipid profile, obesity, rats, type 2 diabetes, zinc-supplemented diet Address for correspondence: Magnus Michael Chukwudike Anyakudo, Endocrinology, Metabolism and Clinical Nutrition Research Unit, Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, P.M.B 536, Laje Road, Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria. © 2020 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.