Vitamin E supplementation may ameliorate oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients

Increasing evidence in both experimental and clinical studies suggests that free radical mediated oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of both types of diabetes mellitus. Proteins and lipids are among the prime targets for oxidative stress. In this study we evaluated oxidative stress in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM) patients by estimating lipid peroxidation and the effect of vitamin E on oxidative stress and metabolic parameters.

A total of 40 children (20 Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients + 20 healthy controls) were examined in the study. Oxidative stress parameters malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidants, reduced glutathione (GSH), vitamin E and metabolic parameters were studied. All the type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients were supplemented with 600 mg/daily vitamin E for three months. After three months of supplementation all the parameters mentioned above were studied again.

Reduced glutathione and vitamin E levels were lower and malondialdehyde levels were higher in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). After supplementation with vitamin E in diabetic patients a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in MDA levels and significant increase in GSH (p < 0.05) and vitamin E (p < 0.05) levels were found. A negative correlation between MDA and vitamin E, between MDA and GSH and a positive correlation between vitamin E and GSH was found. Significant changes were not observed in metabolic parameters in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients after vitamin E supplementation (p > 0.05).

Vitamin E ameliorates oxidative stress in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients and improves antioxidant defense system. However, vitamin E does not have any advantage for metabolic parameters.