Oxidative Capacity, Lipotoxicity, Mitochondrial Damage in Type 2 Diabetes
It’s always nice to have articles validating a multi-pronged approach to treating chronic diseases. While paying attention to the glycemic indices of a diet, it is also important to provide a multitude of compounds from foods that lower oxidative stress. In this review, oxidative stress was noted to be a contributing factor to onset of diabetes by affecting mitochondrial function. Basically, insults to the body (or, normal everyday living without the nutrients to protect our cells) will result in an increase in the machinery of our cells to defend against the insults. The mitochondria of our cells will produce more energy but, as a power station producing electricity, more “smoke” will be produced along with the extra electricity. Without protection (in the form of antioxidants, protective enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, etc…) from the “smoke” (i.e. free radicals, oxidative stress) the “smoke” will turn around and damage the mitochondria. More damage to the mitochondria means the cell will no longer function optimally.
Diabetes — Abstracts: Schrauwen and Hesselink 53 (6): 1412-