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Vitamin E delays diabetes onset in the non-obese diabetic mouse
P E Beales1, A J Williams, M C Albertini
1Department of Diabetes and Metabolism, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Vitamin E was administered to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice to determine if the selective destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes mellitus could be halted by virtue of this vitamin's free oxygen radical scavenger activity. Two groups of NOD mice were treated from 3 weeks of age until 30 weeks of age with either diet supplemented with vitamin E or control diet. Diabetes incidence was recorded as well as the degree of lymphocytic infiltration of the pancreas (insulitis) in animals which did not develop diabetes. Vitamin E did not reduce the incidence of diabetes by 30 weeks of age, however it did significantly delay the onset of the disease (p < 0.01--parallelism test). There were no differences in the degree of insulitis with respect to control mice. We conclude that antioxidant therapy with Vitamin E delays diabetes onset in NOD mice without having an apparent effect on the autoimmune process.
Insights
Vitamin E supplementation delayed the onset of Type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic mice. However, this antioxidant therapy did not prevent the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes involves the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells.
- Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice are a model for studying Type 1 diabetes.
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant with potential free radical scavenger activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if Vitamin E administration could prevent or delay Type 1 diabetes in NOD mice.
- To assess the effect of Vitamin E on insulitis, the autoimmune process targeting pancreatic beta cells.
Main Methods:
- NOD mice were fed a diet supplemented with Vitamin E or a control diet from 3 to 30 weeks of age.
- Diabetes incidence and insulitis severity were monitored.
- Statistical analysis included a parallelism test to assess disease onset delay.
Main Results:
- Vitamin E did not reduce the overall incidence of diabetes by 30 weeks.
- Vitamin E significantly delayed the onset of diabetes (p < 0.01).
- No significant difference in the degree of insulitis was observed between Vitamin E-treated and control groups.
Conclusions:
- Antioxidant therapy with Vitamin E can delay diabetes onset in NOD mice.
- Vitamin E's delay of diabetes onset appears independent of its effect on the autoimmune process (insulitis).
- Further research may explore mechanisms behind Vitamin E's protective effects on beta cell function or survival.