Effect of Vitamin C on Blood Glucose and Glycosylated Hemoglobin in Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an antioxidant which is hypothesized to have an effect on the blood glucose in patients with type II diabetes. The aim of the study is to examine the effect of oral vitamin C on fasting blood glucose (FBG), two hours postprandial blood glucose (PPBG) as well as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). One hundred patients participated in this study were divided into two groups. The first group was the control group contained fifty normal patients. The second group contained fifty patients having type II DM and given the drug Glucophage at a dose of 2000 mg/day beside healthy diet to control diabetes. They were left for three months then the blood samples were collected from both groups to detect the FBG, two hours PPBG and HbA1c. After that, the diabetic group was given beside the drug and diet treatment vitamin C drug (Vitacid calcium) 1000 mg orally three times /day for another three months. At the end of the three months, blood samples were collected from both groups to examine the FBG, two hours PPBG and the HbA1c. The diabetic group recorded a significantly higher level of FBG, two hours PPBG and HbA1c compared to the control group after the first three months. The diabetic group after being given vitamin C beside the drug and diet for three months recorded a significant decreased level of FBG, two hours PPBG, and HbA1c compared to the levels it recorded before without being given the vitamin C. In conclusion, oral supplementation of vitamin C reduces FBG, two hours PPBG, and improves HbA1c. Hence, its combination with diabetic drugs may be beneficial in the treatment of type II DM to maintain good glycemic control.