Effects of young barley leaf extract and antioxidative vitamins on LDL oxidation and free radical scavenging activities in type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
The effects of supplementation of young barley leaf extract (BL) and/or antioxidative vitamins C and E on different low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subfractions susceptibility to oxidation and free radical scavenging activities in patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated.


METHODS
Thirty-six type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled in this study. The subjects received one of the following supplements daily for 4 weeks: 15 g BL, 200 mg vitamin C and 200 mg vitamin E (CE), or BL plus CE (BL + CE).


RESULTS
The lucigenin-chemiluminescence (CL) and luminol-CL levels in blood were significantly reduced in all groups. Vitamin E content of LDL subfractions increased significantly following supplements, especially for BL + CE group. The percent increase of lag times in the BL + CE was significantly higher than those in the BL or CE group. The antioxidative effect of BL + CE was the greatest for small, dense LDL (Sd-LDL) with further increases in percentage of lag times 4 folds compared to BL alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that supplementation with BL may help to scavenge oxygen free radicals, save the LDL-vitamin E content, and inhibit LDL oxidation. Furthermore, the addition of vitamins C and E to BL can inhibit the Sd-LDL oxidation more effectively, which may protect against vascular diseases in type 2 diabetic patients.
Yu
Y-M
YM
Department of Nutrition, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chang
W-C
WC
Chang
C-T
CT
Hsieh
C-L
CL
Tsai
C E
CE
D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000097:blood*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D001467:Hordeum; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014810:Vitamin E; D014815:Vitamins