Positive Health Online

Abstract

FAURE, Laboratoire du Stress Oxydant et Pathologies Associees, Universite J. Fourier, Domaine de la Merci, La Tronche, Grenoble, France, patrice.faure@ujf-grenoble.fr, has reviewed (37 references) the protective effects of the micronutrients vitamin E, zinc, and selenium in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background

Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of vascular complications affecting the heart, the kidneys, the retina and peripheral nerves. Hyperglycaemia leads to oxidative stress, and this plays an important role in the vascular degenerative lesions observed in diabetes. The review considers whether vitamin E, zinc or selenium could be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes.

Methodology

Results

Major epidemiological studies of vitamin E do not yield the expected results in preventing cardiovascular complications. The mechanisms of free radical production in diabetes could explain these results, in that antioxidant enzymes would be more important in these conditions than vitamin E to reduce reactive oxygen species. Zinc has numerous targets to modulate insulin activity including its antioxidant capacity. Zinc levels are decreased in most type 2 diabetes patients. The effect of zinc supplementation on antioxidant status is raised when complications are associated with the diabetes. Selenium is a major antioxidant trace element and is the co-factor of glutathione peroxidase. Low activities of this enzyme are observed in diabetics and are associated with thrombosis and cardiovascular complications.

Conclusion

References

Faure P. Protective effects of antioxidant micronutrients (vitamin E, zinc and selenium) in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine 41 (8): 995-998, Aug 2003.