Diabetes Update

Resveratrol and vitamin B12 support condition management

Resveratrol improved metabolism factors

In this study, 94 participants, aged 18 to 70, with type 2 diabetes for at least five years, took a placebo or 200 mg of resveratrol per day. All had been taking blood sugar control drugs for at least one year.

After 24 weeks, compared to the start of the study, the resveratrol group saw fasting and long-term average blood sugar levels decline 5.97 and 5.6 percent, respectively. Fasting insulin and insulin resistance levels reduced by 8.59 and 13.93 percent, respectively. In a measure of better kidney filtration function, levels of protein in the urine declined 15.65 percent.

Inflammation and oxidative stress factors also improved for the resveratrol group, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and malondialdehyde. The improvements in blood sugar and insulin, as well as most inflammatory factors, were even greater compared to placebo.

Reference: Complementary Therapies in Medicine; 2022, Vol. 66, Article No. 102819

Vitamin B12 complements metformin

Metformin is the first choice of doctors for managing type 2 diabetes, but long-term use increases chances for anemia, with 30 percent of long-term users experiencing poor absorption of vitamin B12, which the body needs to form red blood cells. This review of 17 type 2 diabetes studies included participants aged 49.5 to 80.

In studies of B12 deficiency, 23.16 percent of those on metformin were deficient compared to 17.4 percent of those not on metformin. In studies of length-of-time on metformin, those taking it for four to 10 years were 1.5 times more likely to be deficient in B12 compared to those taking it for less than four years. And those on doses of metformin of 1,000 mg or more were 1.6 times more likely to be deficient in B12 compared to those on lower doses.

Discussing the findings, doctors said those with type 2 diabetes should test for B12 deficiency, even without signs of anemia.

Reference: Cureus; 2022, Vol. 14, No. 12, e32277