Published online Aug 15, 2013. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v4.i4.92
Revised: July 12, 2013
Accepted: July 18, 2013
Published online: August 15, 2013
Processing time: 69 Days and 15.8 Hours
Core tip: Diabetic cardiomyopathy is one of the major causes of mortality in diabetic patients. Common cellular defects underlying the progressive cardiac complications of diabetes are reduction in the rate of contraction, low myosin ATPase activity, dysregulation of [Ca2+]i homeostasis and altered ionic currents. Accordingly, it is of critical importance to develop therapeutic strategies that will effectively inhibit diabetes induced fatal complications. In last decade, several trace elements have been suggested to improve performance of diabetic heart based due to their potential anti-diabetic and/or antioxidant activity. In this article the effects of trace elements on electrophysiological alterations of diabetic heart were discussed in detail.