The objective of the study was to determine whether short-term
antioxidant (
AOX) supplementation affects
insulin sensitivity,
endothelial adhesion molecule levels, and
oxidative stress in
overweight young adults. A
randomized,
double-blind, controlled study tested the effects of
AOXs on measures of
insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment [HOMA]) and quantitative
insulin sensitivity check index),
endothelial adhesion molecules (
soluble intercellular
adhesion molecule-1, vascular
adhesion molecule, and endothelial-leukocyte
adhesion molecule-1),
adiponectin, and
oxidative stress (
lipid hydroperoxides) in
overweight and normal-weight individuals (N = 48, 18-30 years). Participants received either
AOX (
vitamin E, 800 IU;
vitamin C, 500 mg; beta-carotene, 10 mg) or
placebo for 8 weeks. The HOMA values were initially higher in the
overweight subjects and were lowered with
AOX by week 8 (15% reduction, P = .02).
Adiponectin increased in both
AOX groups.
Soluble intercellular
adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial-leukocyte
adhesion molecule-1 decreased in
overweight AOX-treated groups by 6% and 13%, respectively (P < .05). Plasma
lipid hydroperoxides were reduced by 0.31 and 0.70 nmol/mL in the normal-weight and
overweight AOX-treated groups, respectively, by week 8 (P < .05).
Antioxidant supplementation moderately lowers HOMA and
endothelial adhesion molecule levels in
overweight young adults. A potential mechanism to explain this finding is the reduction in
oxidative stress by
AOX. Long-term studies are needed to determine whether
AOXs are effective in suppressing
diabetes or vascular
activation over time.
