Effect of Vitamin C Supplementation on Fasting and Postprandial Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Markers and Lipid Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most wide spread endocrine disorders and among the most important developing health issues. This disease is associated with increased free radical production and decrease in antioxidant defense systems. In this study we evaluated the effect of vitamin C supplementation on fasting and postprandial oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetic patients.

Thirty patients with type 2 diabetes (age range 25 to 65 years) were randomly divided into two groups, 1) treatment with vitamin C (1000mg/d) and 2) the placebo group. They were supplemented for 6 weeks, after which we measured malondialdehyde, IL-6, hs-CRP and lipid profiles in fasting and postprandial state (after a breakfast containing 80g fat, the same as the first day of the study). Data analysis was carried out using Mann Whitney U test, with P<0.05 being significant by SPSS software version 11.

Results showed a significant decrease in fasting (p=0.006) and postprandial MDA (p<0.001) in the vitamin C group compared to controls but there were no significant changes in inflammatory markers and lipid profiles in the fasting and postprandial states.

This study suggests that short term vitamin C supplementation can decrease fasting and postprandial oxidative stress, and thereby possibly prevent diabetes complications.