Modified Zeolites: their use against Diabetes Mellitus

The hypoglycemic power of cancrinite zeolites exchanged with iron (II), calcium (II) and magnesium (II) ions was evaluated in order to determine the influence of mass and contact time on glucose adsorption.Initially, cancrinite zeolites were synthesised from zeolite X, and sodium ions were exchanged for calcium, iron or magnesium. The adsorptive power of these zeolites was then evaluated in a glucose solution. In a first test, the influence of mass and exchanged cation was determined using masses between 50 and 500 mg, and in a second study, the influence of contact time on the adsorption process was determined with an initial mass of 100 mg, and times of: 15, 30, 45, 60 and 120 min. The tests concluded that an increase in mass and contact time up to 60 min favoured the adsorption of glucose, and that the zeolites exchanged with Fe(II) showed the highest adsorption of glucose with respect to the other cations. Based on the results obtained, it can be affirmed that these zeolites could represent an important alternative as a novel drug in the fight against Diabetes Mellitus.