ABSTRACT
Background:Vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E are an integral part of non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system in humans. The present study was designed to estimate and investigate the role of vitamin A, C and E levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The study design involved 200 subjects viz. 100 healthy controls and 100 T2DM cases. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were estimated in whole blood sample and serum obtained was analyzed for quantitative estimation of vitamin A, C and E by enzyme linked imunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: A significant increase (p < 0.005) was observed in the mean HbA1c levels in patients with T2DM as compared to healthy controls. On the contrary, a significant decrease (p < 0.005) was witnessed in the serum vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. A negative correlation was seen between HbA1c and vitamin A (r = -0.327); HbA1c and vitamin C (r = -0.174); HbA1c and vitamin E (r = -0.226). Conclusion: Reduced levels of serum vitamin A, C and E with poorly controlled HbA1c were observed inT2DM patients. Hence supplementation of these vitamins along with periodic estimation should be done in T2DM for risk prediction in diabetes and to prevent diabetic complications.