Effects of high-dose vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress and microalbuminuria in young adult patients with childhood onset type 1 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of high-dose vitamin E supplementation (1200 mg/day) on reducing both microalbuminuria (MA) and oxidative stress in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and persistent MA.


METHODS
We performed a 12-month, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over trial in ten Caucasian young adults (7m/3f; mean age 18.87 +/- 2.91 years) with T1DM and persistent MA. At baseline and at end of the treatment period, determination of albumin excretion rate (AER) and HbA(1c) and evaluation of the oxidant/antioxidant status were performed.


RESULTS
At the beginning of the study, AER and HbA(1c) were not significantly different between the vitamin E and placebo group. No differences in terms of oxidant and antioxidant status were found between the two groups. This was associated with no significantly different urinary VEGF and TGF-beta levels. After 6 months, no significant differences in AER were observed between the two groups (p = 0.59). However, plasma and LDL-vitamin E content were significantly higher in the vitamin E group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.004, respectively). This was associated with a significantly longer lag phase (p = 0.002) and lower MDA (p = 0.049). However, no statistically significant differences were detected in terms of VEGF and TGF-beta urinary levels.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that high-dose vitamin E supplementation reduces markers of oxidative stress and improves antioxidant defence in young patients with T1DM. However, although it positively affects the oxidant/antioxidant status, vitamin E supplementation does not reduce AER in patients with T1DM and persistent MA.
Giannini
C
C
Department of Pediatrics, University of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Lombardo
F
F
Currò
F
F
Pomilio
M
M
Bucciarelli
T
T
Chiarelli
F
F
Mohn
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010919:Placebos; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010919:Placebos; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D014810:Vitamin E; D003404:Creatinine