Micronutrients may help diabetes patients

Dietary supplementation with combined micronutrients including selenium, vitamin e, vanadium and chromium may help diabetes patients decrease the high blood glucose levels.

The animal model study led by Chang Y and colleagues from Jilin University in China and Institut Pasteur de Lille has determined that the combinational micronutrients have protective effects on structures of beta-cells in pancreatic islets in diabetic mice.

The researchers found these nutrients are involved in downregulation of the expression of pathogenic T-helper 1 lymphocyte (Th1) cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNT-alpha) and upregulation of the expression of protective T-helper 2 lymphocyte Th2 cytokine interleukin 10 (IL-10).

The researchers concluded "supplementation of combined micronutrients to diabetic mice could effectively improve disordered glucose metabolism, protect islet structures, and improve the function of beta-cells in pancreatic islets, which are affected by differential regulation of the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes."

The study was published in March 2009 in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research.

Source:

Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2009 Mar;79(2):104-16.
Protective effects of combined micronutrients on islet beta-cells of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.
Chang Y, Zhang GZ, Piao SL, Gao S, Zheng DM, Song Y, Tsicopoulos A, Ying S.
Department of Central Research, The Third Clinical College, Jilin University, Xiantai Street No. 126, Changchun 130033, China, and INSERM U-774, Institut Pasteur de Lille, 1 rue du Professeur Calmette, BP 245, 59019 Lille, France.

By Jimmy Downs