Molecular Healing--Type II Diabetes and Antioxidants

A new study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation stresses the effects of oxidative stress on cells and supports the healing nature of antioxidants. Researchers fed mice a high fat, high sugar diet in order to induce type II diabetes. The diabetes caused negative changes in the cell's mitochondria. The mitochondria is an important cell organelle (analogous to one of our organs) that produces energy for life. The researchers found that the damage was primarily due to the presence of reactive oxygen species molecules (ROS). These are dangerous molecules that react with parts of cells causing damage.



The cellular damage reversed when the mice were given antioxidants. One conclusion may be that the use of antioxidants will decrease the amount of cellular damage in type II diabetes. Antioxidants may also improve current diabetic therapy.



Important antioxidants are:



Vitamins A, C, E

Beta Carotene

Lutein

Selenium

Lycopene

Alpha-Lipoic acid



To see an abstract of the study:



Journal of Clinical Investigation





If we examine this from an informational perspective we can see that diabetes causes an increase in disorder (entropy) in the body by causing cellular damage. The antioxidants work to restore order or decrease entropy. Many natural substances work this way.