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Effects of Vitamin E and Glutathione on Glucose Metabolism: Role of Magnesium

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that has been demonstrated to improve insulin action. Glutathione, another natural antioxidant, may also be important in blood pressure and glucose homeostasis, consistent with the involvement of free radicals in both essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Our grou...

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Published in:Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Tex. 1979), 1999-10, Vol.34 (4, Part 2), p.1002-1006
Main Authors: Barbagallo, Mario, Dominguez, Ligia J, Tagliamonte, Maria Rosaria, Resnick, Lawrence M, Paolisso, Giuseppe
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Vitamin E is an antioxidant that has been demonstrated to improve insulin action. Glutathione, another natural antioxidant, may also be important in blood pressure and glucose homeostasis, consistent with the involvement of free radicals in both essential hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Our group has recently suggested that the effects of reduced glutathione on glucose metabolism may be mediated, at least in part, by intracellular magnesium levels (Mg[i]). Recent evidence suggests that vitamin E enhances glutathione levels and may play a protective role in magnesium deficiency-induced cardiac lesions. To directly investigate the effects of vitamin E supplementation on insulin sensitivity in hypertension, in relation to the effects on circulating levels of reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione and on Mg[i], we performed a 4-week, double-blind, randomized study of vitamin E administration (600 mg/d) versus placebo in 24 hypertensive patients and measured whole-body glucose disposal (WBGD) by euglycemic glucose clamp, GSH/GSSG ratios, and Mg[i] before and after intervention. The relationships among WBGD, GSH/GSSG, and Mg[i] in both groups were evaluated. In hypertensive subjects, vitamin E administration significantly increased WBGD (25.56±0.61 to 31.75±0.53 μmol/kg of fat-free mass per minute; P
ISSN:0194-911X
1524-4563
DOI:10.1161/01.hyp.34.4.1002