Antioxidants

From Diabetes in Pets

Since hyperglycemia does damage to tissues mostly through oxidation, it is speculated^[1] that antioxidants may help reduce and heal this damage to the body. Some dietary supplements are known antioxidants.

Some people suggest that supplementing a diabetic cat's diet with carefully controlled amounts of mixed-tocopherol Vitamin E, plus Essential Fatty Acids (Omega-3, 6, and 9) in the form of fish oils, plus Taurine, makes a powerful antioxidant cocktail and can lower insulin needs.

[edit] Other possibilities

SAM-e (S-adenosylmethionine)^[2] is another untested dietary supplement known for improving liver health and with possible antioxidant properties.

CoQ10 (Co-enzyme Q10) is another controversial^[3] dietary supplement that is not yet tested on animals but may show promise.

[edit] Further Reading

• Vitamin E in cats
• Fat-soluble vitamins in cats
• Feline Diabetes message board discussion on antioxidants including SAM-e and CoQ10

• Vitamin E in dogs
• Pet Education.com-Drs. Foster & Smith-Antioxidants as Preservatives in Dog Food

• Overview of Fatty Acid supplements for pets
• Wikipedia on Oxidization and Antioxidants

[edit] References

1. ↑ Chronic Oxidative Stress as a Central Mechanism for Glucose Toxicity in Pancreatic Islet Beta Cells in Diabetes, P. Robertson, Pacific Northwest R.I.
2. ↑ University of Maryland Medical Center on SAM-e
3. ↑ Mayo Clinic on CoQ10