Role of Micronutrients in the Long-Term Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Oxidative stress is known to play a vital role in the pathogenesis of diabetes as well as the development of diabetic complications. Antioxidants seem to be a potential treatment option for the prevention of complications associated with diabetes. Therefore, it is prudent to explore the role of antioxidants in the prevention and management of diabetes and its complications. Moreover, micronutrient deficiencies are common in patients with type 2 diabetes and tend to play pivotal roles in developing and progressing this chronic disease. Hence, the present review was performed to explore the role of micronutrient
supplementation in the prevention and management of diabetes and its complications. In the article, the authors discuss the role of micronutrient deficiencies in diabetes and discuss the published evidence on whether these micronutrients have a role in preventing and managing diabetes and its complications. The micronutrients discussed in this article include vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, and chromium. Based on the available literature, there is insufficient evidence to determine the potential role of micronutrient supplementation in patients with diabetes. However, micronutrients may serve
as potential adjunctive treatment options in diabetes patientsand their use must be tailored, depending on the patient’s diabetic status, age, micronutrient dose, duration of diabetes, and deficiency status. Micronutrient supplementation in diabetes may also be considered as an adjunct treatment option for select groups vulnerable to deficiency states. More studies are needed to ascertain their exact role in diabetes prevention and management.