Wednesday Feb 17, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- People with type 2 diabetes mellitus experience skeletal muscle insulin resistance and oxidative stress among other things.  A new study confirms previous animal studies that suggest antioxidant supplements like vitamin C help these conditions in humans.

The study shows that daily supplementation with 2x0.5 grams of vitamin C or ascorbic acid for four months drastically improved skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and oxidative stress in people who lived with type 2 diabetes mellitus.  

Study participants taking vitamin C supplements increased insulin-mediated blood sugar disposal, peripheral insulin sensitivity index, vitamin C concentration in skeletal muscle, but decreased 7′-dichlorofluorescin [DCFH] oxidation in skeletal muscle during hyperinsulinaemia.

Taking vitamin C supplements lowered total superoxide dismutase activity.   It seems that vitamin C helps diabetes mellitus as an antioxidant.  

The study concluded "Findings implicate AA (vitamin C) supplementation as a potentially inexpensive, convenient, and effective adjunct therapy in the treatment of insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes." (David Liu)

Shaun A. Mason, Paul A. Della Gatta, Rod J. Snow, Aaron P. Russell, Glenn D. Wadley, Ascorbic acid supplementation improves skeletal muscle oxidative stress and insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes: Findings of a randomized controlled study, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, Available online 13 January 2016.