13) TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPLEMENTS
i) Vitamins C, D and E
Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplements are an area of controversy. There are over fifty studies looking at the effects of vitamin E supplements. About 25% of these studies found that moderate dosages in the range of 600 to 800 mg per day are safe and raised life expectancy slightly. About 75% of the studies found no effect. And one study found a negative effect from a vitamin E dosage greater than 1000 mg per day. Some studies found that vitamin C had a synergistic effect with the vitamin E; the results being better if both were taken together. Another large study found that men and women with the highest levels of vitamin C were 60 to 70 per cent less likely to die from heart attacks or strokes than those with the lowest levels. But then vitamin C can very rarely result in toxicity in large dosages over 500 mg per day. Vitamin D deficiency has become more common as people avoid sunlight in order to avoid skin cancers. Unfortunately there are very few good sources of vitamin D other than fatty fish and you would have to eat half a pound of salmon per day in order to obtain the 1000 IUs recommended.
Dr. Michael Brownlee is one of the best, if not the best, in the field of diabetes research and he is clearly leaning towards vitamin E helping a person with diabetes. Because of Dr. Brownlee's unquestionable expertise, this is one point in this book where we will make an exception to our "must be backed up by meaningful research" rule. We recommend 500 IU (about 300 mg) of vitamin E and 500 mg vitamin C every other day. We also recommend a 1000 IU vitamin D tablet daily as an insurance policy against a shortage because of a diet abnormality. We definitely recommend against excessive amounts of any vitamin, meaningful research has shown that mega-doses of any vitamin actually shorten life expectancy. Note that David Mendoza has recently pointed out a small and limited study where 1000 mg of vitamin C combined with 500 mg of vitamin E taken daily interfered with the beneficial effects of exercise. This limited study, if confirmed by other studies, points out the potential problems inherent in taking more than the recommended amounts of any vitamin.
One thing that is clear is that the effect of any supplement, including vitamins, simply pales in comparison to the effects of weight loss and exercise. Taking any supplement cannot take the place of weight loss and exercise, they simply aren't in the same league.
Current Chapter: 13) TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPLEMENTS
a) Introduction
b) The Benefits of Fish Oil
c) Issues with Fish Oil
d) Flax Seed Oil
e) Bad Omega 6 oils
f) Nuts and Phytosterols
g) Aspirin Therapy
h) Magnesium
i) Vitamins C, D and E
j) High Water Intake© Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved.