Role of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, carnitine, vitamins, phytochemicals and trace elements in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its chronic complications.
Nowadays, the treatment of diabetes mellitus is based on the variable use and combination of diet, antidiabetic oral agents (metformin, sulphanylureas, glynides, acarbose and thiazolidinediones) and insulin or its analogs, depending on the type of diabetes and the needs of the patient. The prevention and treatment of chronic micro- and macrovascular complications, on the other hand, is based on the achievement and maintenance of an optimal glycaemic control and requires the combined use of adjunctive therapy such as antihypertensive drugs and cholesterol-lowering medications. Furthermore, several herbal preparations and dietary supplements, such as antioxidants, essential fatty acids, lipid metabolism activators, vitamins and trace elements, are advertised and prescribed to patients as a useful adjuvant to a diabetic diet and conventional medications in order to improve glycaemic control and reduce the impact of chronic complications. In this regard, we have attempted to review the current concepts dealing with the usefulness of these complementary therapies in treating diabetic patients.
Triggiani
Vincenzo
V
D.E.T.O- Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University of Bari, Bari, Italy. v.triggiani@endo.uniba.it
Resta
Francesco
F
Guastamacchia
Edoardo
E
Sabbà
Carlo
C
Licchelli
Brunella
B
Ghiyasaldin
Shahram
S
Tafaro
Emilio
E
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins; D002331:Carnitine