The Relationship between Antioxidants Consumption and Insulin Resistance/Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetes without and with Coronary Stenosis: A Case-Control Study

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is known as a common chronic metabolic disease worldwide. Coronary artery diseases are one of the hazardous disorders in diabetic patients. The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary antioxidants intake with insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity among T2D without and with coronary stenosis (CS).

This case-control study was conducted on 247 participants (65 diabetic patients suffered from CS and 172 diabetic patients without CS). Dietary antioxidants intake (vitamin E, Vitamin C, selenium, beta-carotene, and zinc) were assessed with a valid and reliable 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Blood pressure, weight, and height were measured. Blood sample was collected for glycaemic control assessment.

Diabetic patients with CS had significantly higher HbA1c levels (P = 0.004). There was a negative significant association between vitamin E (r = -0.91; P < 0.001) and Beta-carotene (r =-0.88; P < 0.001) with HbA1c among all participants. There was also a positive significant association between vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium with insulin sensitivity among all the participants; (r = 0.59; P = 0.004) for vitamin E, (r = 0.91; P < 0.001) for vitamin C, and (r = 0.27; P = 0.04) for Beta-carotene.

Antioxidants intake especially vitamin C and beta-carotene may have an anti-insulin resistance effect in metabolic disorders