Immune function antioxidant vitamin supplementation effects

Routine antioxidant vitamin supplementation, e.g. with vitamins C and/or E, of the diabetic diet should be considered. Vitamin C depletion is present in all diabetics irrespective of the presence of vascular disease. A recent study demonstrated no significant difference between the dietary intake of vitamin C (the main determinant of plasma ascorbate) in patients with diabetes and age-matched controls, confirming the view that ascorbate depletion is secondary to the diabetic process and su esting that diabetic patients require additional intakes of the vitamin to maintain optimal levels (Sinclair et /., 1994). Antioxidant supplementation may have additive beneficial effects on a wide variety of processes involved in diabetic vascular damage including blood pressure, immune function, inflammatory reactions. 

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