Vitamins drastically cut infections in diabetics
A daily dose of multivitamin and mineral supplements can dramatically reduce the rate of minor infections in diabetics, American researchers have discovered.
A year-long study of 130 people in the United States, published in the latest issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, found daily vitamin use reduced the rate of minor respiratory, urinary tract, influenza and gastrointestinal infections among people aged 45 and older.
But the findings were most striking for subjects with adult-onset diabetes, or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Infection occurred in only 17% of diabetic patients who took multivitamins, compared with 93% of diabetics who received a placebo.
The supplements proved effective enough to reduce absenteeism due to infectious diseases, with diabetics who received multivitamins recording no days of absenteeism. But 89% of those who took a placebo were absent from work for one or more days.
Subjects who received supplements were given a mix of multivitamins and minerals similar to so-called one-a-day tablets sold in retail outlets.
"Our trial, which was performed in a sample of middle-aged persons, demonstrated a benefit in incidence of infection. However, this benefit was almost entirely observed in participants with diabetes," said Dr Thomas Barringer of the University of North Carolina, who led the study.
"A larger clinical trial is needed to determine whether these findings can be replicated not only in diabetic persons, but also in any population with a high rate of sub-optimal nutrition or potential underlying disease impairment," such as those living in the developing world, he said.
About 40% of Americans use supplements regularly, about half of whom take a combination vitamins and minerals. Despite such widespread use, there is little evidence they have any health benefits for the general population, something this study also found.