DOC News January 1, 2005
Volume 2 Number 1 p. 23
© 2005 American Diabetes Association
High Doses of Vitamin E and Insulin Resistance
High doses of vitamin E appear to improve oxidative stress and insulin
sensitivity in overweight people. Researchers at the University of Otago in
New Zealand tested the hypothesis that vitamin E decreases markers of
oxidative stress and plasma alanine transferase levels and improves insulin
sensitivity in overweight individuals. Eighty overweight individuals with a
body mass index over 27 were randomly assigned to receive either 800 IU of
vitamin E daily or a placebo for 3 months. The dose of vitamin E was increased
to 1,200 IU per day for a further 3 months.
Research results showed plasma peroxides decreased by 27% at 3 months and
by 29% at 6 months in the group that received the vitamin E. This same group
positively correlated with plasma vitamin E concentrations 6 months later, at
the end of the study. At 3 months, fasting plasma glucose and insulin
concentrations were significantly reduced.
The findings "indicate that vitamin E improves oxidative stress and
hepatocellular function," the authors conclude.
Manning PJ, Sutherland WHF, Walker RJ, Williams SM, de Jong
SA, Ryalls AR, Berry EA: Effect of high-dose vitamin E on insulin resistance
and associated parameters in overweight subjects. Diabetes
Care 27:2166–2171, 2004.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
CiteULike 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
