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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Model of Chronic Nutrient Infusion in the Rat
Published on: August 14, 2013
Nutritional supplements and their effect on glucose control
Tanya Lee1, Jean-Jacques Dugoua
1The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, 400 Main Street East #210, Milton, ON, L9T 1P7, Canada. tanyalee.nd@gmail.com
Abstract:
Type 2 diabetes is a growing health concern. The use of nutritional supplements by patients with type 2 diabetes is estimated at somewhere between 8% to 49%. The objective of this review was to search the scientific literature for advances in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes with nutritional supplements. Twelve databases were searched with a focus on extracting studies published in the past 3 years. The following nutritional supplements were identified as potentially beneficial for type 2 diabetes treatment or prevention: vitamins C and E, α-lipoic acid, melatonin, red mold, emodin from Aloe vera and Rheum officinale, astragalus, and cassia cinnamon. Beta-carotene was shown to be ineffective in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Ranging from preclinical to clinical, there is evidence that nutritional supplements may be beneficial in the treatment or prevention of type 2 diabetes. Health providers should investigate drug-nutritional supplement interactions prior to treatment.
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