The review of trials identifies positive effects of these nutrients on various outcome measures relating to insulin resistance and cardiovascular factors .
A majority of the trials found a positive effect of chromium on fasting plasma glucose .
Isoflavones were found to have a positive effect on insulin resistance and cardiovascular outcome measures , but only when combined with soy proteins .
Vitamin E is reported to reduce oxidative stress at levels of 200 mg day(-1 ) or more
The role of nutritional supplementation is of increasing interest with regard to ocular disease .
R and omised controlled trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of supplementation for age-related macular degeneration , and formulations are now being developed for use by people with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy .
The aim of this review was to synthesis e the evidence for use of nutritional supplementation in type 2 diabetes .
The potential role of alpha-lipoic acid , chromium , folic acid , isoflavones , magnesium , Pycnogenol , selenium , vitamin C , vitamin E , and zinc in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is discussed .
Vitamin C: an aldose reductase inhibitor that normalizes erythrocyte sorbitol in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE Diabetic hyperglycemia promotes sorbitol production from glucose via aldose reductase . Since the intracellular accumulation of sorbitol , or its sequelae , are postulated to contribute to the progression of chronic diabetic complications , aldose reductase inhibitors ( ARI ) offer therapeutic promise . Others have shown that vitamin C at pharmacologic doses decreases erythrocyte ( RBC ) sorbitol . We examined whether smaller , physiologic doses of vitamin C were also effective in individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( IDDM ) and whether vitamin C was an ARI in vitro . METHODS Vitamin C supplements ( 100 or 600 mg ) were taken daily for 58 days by young adults with IDDM and nondiabetic adults in an otherwise free-living design . Diabetic control was monitored by fasting plasma glucose , glycosylated hemoglobin , and glycosuria and was moderate to poor throughout the study . RBC sorbitol was measured at baseline and again at 30 and 58 days . Three-day dietary records and 24-hour urine collection s were performed for each sampling day . RESULTS RBC sorbitol levels were significantly elevated in IDDMs , on average doubled , despite their more than adequate dietary intakes of vitamin C and normal plasma concentrations . Vitamin C supplementation at either dose normalized the RBC sorbitol in IDDMs within 30 days . This correction of sorbitol accumulation was independent of changes in diabetic control . Furthermore , our in vitro studies show that ascorbic acid inhibited aldose reductase activity . CONCLUSIONS Vitamin C supplementation is effective in reducing sorbitol accumulation in the erythrocytes of diabetics . Given its tissue distribution and low toxicity , we suggest a superiority for vitamin C over pharmaceutic ARIs
The review of trials identifies positive effects of these nutrients on various outcome measures relating to insulin resistance and cardiovascular factors .
A majority of the trials found a positive effect of chromium on fasting plasma glucose .
Isoflavones were found to have a positive effect on insulin resistance and cardiovascular outcome measures , but only when combined with soy proteins .
Vitamin E is reported to reduce oxidative stress at levels of 200 mg day(-1 ) or more
The role of nutritional supplementation is of increasing interest with regard to ocular disease .
R and omised controlled trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of supplementation for age-related macular degeneration , and formulations are now being developed for use by people with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy .
The aim of this review was to synthesis e the evidence for use of nutritional supplementation in type 2 diabetes .
The potential role of alpha-lipoic acid , chromium , folic acid , isoflavones , magnesium , Pycnogenol , selenium , vitamin C , vitamin E , and zinc in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is discussed .