Abstract

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF VITAMIN E AND ITS COMBINATION WITH VITAMIN C ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN DIABETIC HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Muhammad Imran Shaikh*, Muhammad Ali Ghoto, Abdullah Dayo, Noor Jahan, Omair Anwar Mohiuddin

Abstract

To compare the antioxidant effect of vitamin E alone and its combination with vitamin C on endothelial dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus, a prospective, randomized controlled, parallel group, interventional study was conducted to record flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in 167 diabetic patients. Out of these, 61(39%) were smokers and 97(52%) were Hypertensive. The interventional group was treated with Vitamins E (400mg/day) for first six weeks and with both vitamin E (400mg/day) and vitamin C (500mg/day) for later six weeks of study. No significant variation in FMD% was recorded in the control group while for interventional group significant increase in FMD% was recorded. Within interventional group, addition of vitamin C in existing vitamin E therapy significantly improved endothelial function in all diabetic patients (Individual therapy v/s combination therapy: 7.30±1.47 v/s 8.75±1.65; p≤0.05); smokers: (6.99±1.42 v/s 8.59±1.92; p≤0.05); nonsmokers (7.48±1.48 v/s 8.85±1.48; p≤0.05); hypertensive patients (6.94±1.41 v/s 8.49±1.53; p≤0.05) and nonhypertensives (7.82±1.40 v/s 9.15±1.75; p≤0.05). Results obtained from the current study clearly indicate the beneficial effects of vitamin E on FMD in patients with diabetes and were further augmented by the addition of vitamin C in therapy. Maximum improvement in FMD was recorded in nonsmoker-nonhypertensive diabetic group.

Keywords: Antioxidant, Diabetes, Hypertension, Flow mediated dilation.