Basic nutritional investigationRetinoids have therapeutic action in type 2 diabetes

•Vitamin A has antihyperglycemic potential.•Vitamin A prevents oxidative damage in the tissues and plays a regenerative role in the pancreas.•Retinoids play a role in glucose transporter 4 expression and beta cell regeneration.•The study deals with the in vivo evidence of the use of retinoids as an intervention in type 2 diabetes.

ObjectiveUncontrolled diabetes is associated with a compromised antioxidant state of the body. Consequentially, the reactive oxygen species generated lead to oxidative insult and associated complications. Based on this paradigm, exogenous antioxidant supplementation is thought to exert a therapeutic role in type 2 diabetes (T2-D) biology.MethodsIn the present study, the effect of vitamin A supplementation was assessed on disease progression in T2-D BALB/c mice. Animals were divided into three groups. With the exception of control, the mice in remaining groups were induced with experimental T2-D. After a 15-day treatment protocol, the mice were sacrificed and various parameters were analyzed.ResultsThe treated group evidenced a considerable improvement in total antioxidant potential and glycemic control. A therapeutic effect on beta cell degeneration as compared to the diabetic group was also found.ConclusionsThe study illustrates the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant potential of vitamin A in vivo, which has potential to serve as a dietary intervention in T2-D.