RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The role of micronutrients and other predisposing factors associated with the aetiology of type 2 diabetes in Nigeria is not well established. The objectives of this study were to investigate predisposing factors associated with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes among a Nigerian adult population. METHODS: Predisposing factors associated with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes were investigated in 60 Igbo (a major tribe in Eastern Nigeria) adults aged 30-90 years. This study was carried out at the Diabetic Clinic, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu. Packed cell volume (PCV), serum ferrtin and some anthropometric parameters were measured alongside fasting blood sugar (FBS). RESULTS: PCV recorded a statistically significant lower (p<0.001) mean value at 32.94±0.61% in the patients when compared with the control group with a mean value of 39.06±1.02%. Serum ferritin revealed a statistically significant higher (p<0.01; 110.20±15.17 ng/ml) mean value in the patients when compared with the control group (20.4±5.64 ng/ml). However, PCV (32.00±0.88%) and body mass index (BMI) (31.99±1.12 Kg/m(2)) recorded a statistically significant lower (p<0.05) mean value in female patients when compared with their corresponding males. There was no significant correlation (p>0.05) between serum iron ferritin, FBS and all other anthropometric predictors of incidence of type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetes is not associated with elevated levels of serum iron ferritin. Hence, serum ferritin may not be a better predictor of type 2 diabetes, especially in uncomplicated cases.