Protective effect of antioxidants consumption on diabetes, hepatic and vascular complications: alliance between chemistry and biology

Abstract

Objectives: Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes and today new therapeutics target natural antioxidants as an alternative/additional strategy. Our studies, combining chemistry and biology, aimed to compare the anti-oxidant properties of fruits and vegetables (F&V) and to validate in vivo the effect of selected products on diabetes and complications. Methodology: HPLC-ABTS.+ assay was realized on 27 F&V extracts (polar, nonpolar, oil). In vivo, diabetes was induced by 2 months high-fat-high-fructose (HFHF) and dietary measures were then introduced with the selected F&V (red cabbage (RC) and cherry). Anthropomorphic, metabolic and oxidative parameters, hepatic (steatosis…) and vascular (endothelial dysfunction) complications were determined. Results: HPLC-ABTS.+ reaction showed high antioxidant capacity in cherry, RC. However, in vivo , chronic cheery worse diabetes and complications even though dietary-measures delays them. RC prevents all studied-complications and decreases them to physiological levels, especially steatosis and vascular function. Conclusions: Lifestyle changes are necessary but not sufficient to prevent diabetes evolution. RC clearly improves rapidly these benefits. However consumption of a high glycemic-index-antioxidant, like cherry, may be harmful. In fact, chronic consumption of natural sweetened-products masks its beneficial antioxidant effects. Thus, the addition of antioxidants to the foods lifestyle modifications should be targeted.