Antioxidants make us more prone to Diabetes ...

[Vision]

Just when one thinks they are living a healthy, disciplined lifestyle -- studies emerge that spray cold water on momentum --

http://ow.ly/15TrfL

ScienceDaily (Oct. 7, 2009) — We've all heard about the damage that reactive oxygen species (ROS) – aka free radicals – can do to our bodies and the sales pitches for antioxidant vitamins, skin creams or "superfoods" that can stop them. In fact, there is considerable scientific evidence that chronic ROS production within cells can contribute to human diseases, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

But a new report in the October 7th Cell Metabolism, adds to evidence that it might not be as simple as all that. The researchers show that low levels of ROS – and hydrogen peroxide in particular -- might actually protect us from diabetes, by improving our ability to respond to insulin signals.

"Our studies indicate that 'physiological' low levels of ROS may promote the insulin response and attenuate insulin resistance early in the progression of type 2 diabetes, prior to overt obesity and hyperglycemia," said Tony Tiganis of Monash University in Australia. "In a way, we think there is a delicate balance and that too much of a good thing - surprise, surprise - might be bad."

Tiganis' team found that mice with a deficiency that prevented them from eliminating physiological ROS didn't become insulin resistant on a high-fat diet as they otherwise would have. They showed that those health benefits could be attributed to insulin-induced signals and the uptake of glucose into their muscles. When those animals were given an antioxidant, those benefits were lost, leaving the mice with more signs of diabetes.

Tiganis said whether antioxidants are ultimately good for people will probably depend on their state of health or disease. "In the case of early type 2 diabetes and the development of insulin resistance, our studies suggest that antioxidants would be bad for you." Under some conditions, treatments designed to selectively increase ROS in muscle – if they can be devised – might even help, he says.

It's not the first time studies have suggested that antioxidants can be a negative, Tiganis adds. Studies in worms have suggested that antioxidants can shorten lifespan, as have some epidemiological studies in humans. Other recent reports indicate that antioxidants may negate the longer-term benefits of exercise training by lowering the activity of certain genes involved in ROS defense.

Tiganis said it will ultimately be important to work out at what stage ROS go from being good to bad. He suspects it probably depends on the levels and/or the source of their generation. (ROS are generated both on the surfaces of cells and within cells by mitochondria, which convert nutrients such as glucose into energy, he explained.)

Although any health implications of the new findings would require further study, the findings lead Tiganis to suspect it is best not to take daily antioxidant vitamins, especially if you are otherwise healthy. "Do exercise," he says, as this is a natural source of ROS that may promote insulin action.

The researchers include Kim Loh, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Haiyang Deng, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Atsushi Fukushima, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Xiaochu Cai, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Benoit Boivin, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Sandra Galic, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Clinton Bruce, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria, Australia; Benjamin J. Shields, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Beata Skiba, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria, Australia; Lisa M. Ooms, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Nigel Stepto, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Ben Wu, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Christina A. Mitchell, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Nicholas K. Tonks, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY; Matthew J. Watt, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; Mark A. Febbraio, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, Victoria, Australia; Peter J. Crack, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Sofianos Andrikopoulos, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and Tony Tiganis, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

[Gerry]

Mike,

I am convinced that, depending on what you read or who you listen to, someone is going to say that too much of one thing is bad for you and too little of one thing is bad for you.

A healthy diet is key. Obesity is the number one factor driving diabetes in the US.

I am not sure if the worms tested were obese or not.

I will not change my diet and regime due to these findings. I am in my 50's, diabetes free, a little over weight (working on that) and eat well and nutritious. No one in my family is obese, all my siblings are diabetes free and in their 50's, and my mother is a very healthy 83.

Antioxidants play a huge role in my and my wife's diet.

Bad diet, lack of exercise, obese kids and adults are the reason for diabetes outbreak and the rise. I appreciate the study of mitochondria and its offerings, but if you are healthy and eat reasonably healthy, don't change a thing without consulting your physician.

[HarveyJ]

Hmmm, considering how many Monash people are involved in this study, I probably know some of the researchers through other acquaintances.

Red & blue fruits and /or veggies daily, a glass of pinot or cab-sav with dinner, and you'll be right provided you're not cramming your face with sugary crap the rest of the time.
The people taking too many anti-oxidants are the ones bumping their levels up by popping more pills. The problem here is people thinking they can pop pills to fix these problems, because there' a pill for everything now... just like in the Jetsons.... [/sarcasm]

[Gerry]

Red & blue fruits and /or veggies daily, a glass of pinot or cab-sav with dinner, and you'll be right provided you're not cramming your face with sugary crap the rest of the time.

Lets do lunch~!

Unfortunately, I would have to pass on the wine. I love wine but one certain medication I have to take twice a day is taboo with alcohol. I will be glad to drink you under the table with water!

Red and blue fruits are an understatement. Unfortunately, they are expensive for most. That is why we grow our own - three different varieties of Raspberries as well as three varieties each of blackberries and blueberries and grapes, and two of strawberries. I try to plant early, mid, and late season varieties. Good to know I am also feeding the wildlife. I must have the healthiest deer, rabbits, possums, coons, fox, eagles, hawks around.

I went to the grocery store yesterday, something I don't often do. I was shocked! Green peppers were on sale of 2 for $4.00. Are you kidding me??? $2.00 each and that was a special price??? I just happened to be in the produce section looking for some fresh limes and garlic and noticed that.

No wonder we are an out of shape, obese, blood sludge society. This makes fast food loaded with carcinagens the only affordable option for most.

I wish I could afford to buy seeds and a tiller for every person in this country and teach them how to grow their own food. A very small speck of your yard or even a pot and you can grow spinach, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, peas, and more.

[Adatise]

That is exactly what drug companies want us to believe. Want to cure diabetes, that's easy, just take Elotin. Buy it out of Canada. It cost $28 a month and cures 100% of all diabetes always and it is natural, type one and two it cures.The inventor, Dr. Kim or something like that, was offered 30 million from a drug company to buy it so they could stuff the cure (hide it). He said stick it up your fuking your ass. He will probably die now but many have the recipe and will push it for ever.

No, I have no medical license but I don't care if they try put me in prison for practicing medicine without a license. They could never convict me because I will just say so and so at such and such a site says this. Not me. Free cures that work for all diseases via PM's. If I really know how to cure it, "I will". I don't know them all. If they (diseases) are to far advanced, they are much harder to cure also and I make no guarantees. Cancer is impossible for all humans to catch if you simply eat 3 apricot raw pits a day. If you can afford it, buy the laetrile tablets because it works even better. It is a cure also for cancer in higher doses but you have to go to Mexico for it. Of course the drug companies are trying to get it banned. They will lose hundreds of billions of dollars if Americans found it works much better than drug companies ways of cut, burn and poison. Hell, don't take my word for it, please look it up. IV or oral vitamin C cures over 50 diseases. See Linus Paulings books. Two time Noble prize winner.
Diabetes is easily curable many ways. Treating it is a billion dollar business. Curing it cost pennies.





Love and light
Namaste