Vitamin C May Prevent Diabetes Damage Alliance OH
Vitamin C May Prevent Diabetes Damage
Don't run out and stock your medicine chest with it just yet, but some research shows that Vitamin C, when combined with insulin, stops blood vessel damage in patients with Type 1 diabetes.
We had tested this theory on research models, but this is the first time anyone has shown the therapy's effectiveness in people," says Michael Ihnat, Ph.D., principal study investigator.
The study, which appeared in June in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolismlooked at those with Type 1 diabetes. Patients who have Type 2 diabetes are currently being studied.
How It Works
Ihnat found that cells actually have a "memory" that can be damaging in people with diabetes even when their blood sugar is under control. But when an antoxidant like Vitamin C was added, that "memory" disappeared and cell function became normal, according to US Fed News.
"Antioxidants are very important for diabetics," says Dr. Kent Holtorf, an endocrinologist. "And that doesn't mean just Vitamin C, but other antioxidants as well."
The study's authors warn against self-dosing at home, though. In the study, the vitamin was injected directly into the bloodstream and given in very high doses. This is not recommended as a DIY treatment. Research continues on how antioxidants like Vitamin C work, and the hope is that the work may conclude with an easy and inexpensive treatment to control diabetes.
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