Diabetic Vitamins & Scientific Facts

What are the best vitamins for diabetes? How can they lower blood sugar? How far can they reduce the bad effects of free radicals, and further damages to the kidney, liver and/or nerves?

In the following paragraphs I will try to explain the importance of vitamins in diabetics through their related scientific facts.

Vitamin C

It is also known with the scientific name of ascorbic acid. In one study carried out by a turkish team in Yeditepe University (1), researchers has concluded that ascorbic acid supplementation has important antagonizing effects on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Taking the polyphenol-rich antioxidant supplement might be beneficial in preventing cardiovascular complications too.

In another study carried out by a polish team (2), it has been concluded that impaired glucose is mediated by the poor antioxidation.

People with diabetes has much more oxidative stress than non-diabetics. What is more, oxidative stress plays an important role in the diabetes complications onset. That's why antioxidant supplements (such as Vitamin C) are beneficial to this category (3).

Biotin

Researchers from South Korea have concluded that biotinylated exendin-4 analogues can be a good oral antidiabetic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (4).

Another study in Japan has concluded that biotin could improve the diabetic condition. What is more, biotin may repress the gluconeogenic genes (genes responsible for the production of glucose) and their transcription factors through an insulin-signaling independent pathway.(5)

Explore more vitamins And Minerals.

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Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a remarkable multifunctional vitamin which plays important role in various organs. The following research studies state the role of vitamin D in diabetics.

Greek researchers have found that in a homogenous southern European population such as Greece, with low incidence of type 1 diabetes, the polymorphisms of vitamin D receptors gene (various forms of gene) are associated with type 1 diabetes prevalence. (6)

McCarty concluded in his research that vitamin D supplements decrease the risk for insulin resistance and obesity.

Now, at last, I want to make you something clear. I am not saying that you should worry with your current health situation. I am just passing to you some of research results that have been conducted in diabetics and the association with vitamins.

Our body comes with a special balance: what is gone should be substituted. However, in cases of diseases or conditions (like diabetes), this balance is damaged, resulting in persistent high blood sugar.

That is why we are emphasizing the importance of re-substituting what lacks or is still damaged in order to beat diabetes and its complications.

Healthy food is a very good source for this absent vitamins; while there exist some supplements containing the best diabetic vitamins and herbs

References:

Fenercioglu AK, Saler T, Genc E, Sabuncu H, Altuntas Y. The effects of polyphenol containing antioxidants on oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications. J Endocrinol Invest. 2009 Oct 15.
Skalska A, Gasowski J, Grodzicki T. Antioxidants modify the relationship between endothelin-1 level and glucose metabolism-associated parameters. Metabolism. 2009 Sep;58(9):1229-33. Epub 2009 Jun 18.
Pan HZ, Zhang L, Guo MY, Sui H, Li H, Wu WH, Qu NQ, Liang MH, Chang D. The oxidative stress status in diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy. Acta Diabetol. 2009 May 28.
Jin CH, Chae SY, Son S, Kim TH, Um KA, Youn YS, Lee S, Lee KC. A new orally available glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, biotinylated exendin-4, displays improved hypoglycemic effects in db/db mice. J Control Release. 2009 Feb 10;133(3):172-7. Epub 2008 Oct 21
Sugita Y, Shirakawa H, Sugimoto R, Furukawa Y, Komai M. Effect of biotin treatment on hepatic gene expression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 May;72(5):1290-8. Epub 2008 May 7.
Panierakis C, Goulielmos G, Mamoulakis D, Petraki E, Papavasiliou E, Galanakis E. Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in Crete, Greece. Clin Immunol. 2009 Nov;133(2):276-81. Epub 2009 Sep 5.
McCarty MF. Poor vitamin D status may contribute to high risk for insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular disease in Asian Indians. Med Hypotheses. 2009 Jun;72(6):647-51. Epub 2009 Feb 12.

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