Role of antioxidant in the regulation of blood glucose level

Abstract

Antioxidants play important role in the prevention of free radical formation and helps in reducing various disorders such as cancer, aging, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, immune system decline, and brain dysfunction. There are several foods such as fruits, green leafy vegetables, tea, coffee, nuts and oilseeds which have been found to have good antioxidants potential. These dietary antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, phytochemicals etc. are found to have various disease preventive capacities. These antioxidants play an important role in protection against photo oxidative processes by acting as oxygen and peroxyl radical scavengers. These have the capacities of preventing cardiovascular diseases include atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, and heart failure. Antioxidants stimulate the immune system by enhancing T-lymphocyte proliferation in response to infection increasing cytokine production and synthesis of immunoglobulin and protect membrane stability, including quenching or scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species. The present review highlights the health benefits of antioxidants with supporting evidence from animal studies and humans.