Various studies have in the past for diabetes patients compared to non-diabetics, showed a higher level of oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is among the substances that Antioxidative is effective. Scientists from Britain, in a randomized, double-blind and placebo pilot study investigated whether the intake of vitamin C oxidative stress in patients with type 1 diabetes can reduce.

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Vitamins and trace elements are micronutrients, which protect against oxidative stress play an important role. Oxidative stress can damage cells and contribute to early atherosclerosis in blood vessels. Especially the atherosclerosis in diabetes leads to frequent occurrence of heart attack and stroke and premature mortality. The body has several safeguards to prevent oxidative stress can act. Micronutrients to support the body here. An example is the vitamin C, the antioxidant than harmful free oxygen radicals packets, and so also the process of atherosclerosis vascular opposite effect. The German Society for Nutrition recommends for adults (non-diabetics and diabetics) an injection of at least 100 mg vitamin C daily.

The team led by Gareth Davison of Exercise Sciences Research Institute, University of Ulster, has 12 male type 1 diabetes patients and 14 healthy control subjects in the study included. The 18-30-year-old diabetic patients were at the diabetes clinic at the University Hospital of Wales. The long-term glycemic HbA1c value stood at an average of 7.9% (control subjects: 4.6%).

To the presence of oxidative stress to assess the proportion of free radicals in the blood determined. The study participants to undergo several blood collection at different time points during a resting phase, after an extreme physical stress and before and two hours after ingestion of one gram of ascorbic acid or placebo (sham = preparation). It is known that after a very strong physical load (excessive sport without adequate regeneration) of oxidative stress in the body increases. As a measure of oxidative stress is the change of free radicals in the blood, with the help of modern technical procedures (ESR spectroscopy and spin-trap) made visible and can be measured.

The results: As expected, the diabetics compared to their healthy peers significantly higher concentrations of free radicals on (p <0.05). Due to the extreme physical strain, the oxidative stress in diabetics and non-diabetics continues to grow. After administration of 1 gram of ascorbic acid increased the vitamin C levels in blood and the proportion of free radicals decreased in both groups. While the improvement in sleep among diabetics and non-diabetics was pronounced roughly the same, benefited Type 1 diabetes patients following the situation significantly greater burden of vitamin C intake (reduction of free radicals: p <0.05 vs.. Control group).

The intake of vitamin C, in patients with type 1 diabetes contribute to oxidative stress after a stress situation to be reduced. In another (larger) studies must now be examined to what extent these results to confirm whether this new recommendations can be derived.