Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder caused by many factors and related to serious complications. Diabetes mellitus includes oxidative stress and inflammation, in addition to hyperglycemia and resistance to insulin.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with vitamin C on blood glucose control and body mass index in type 2 diabetic patients of the family medicine outpatient clinic in Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.

Material and methods

This was a double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Sixty patients (n = 60) were distributed randomly into two groups: the intervention group (on 1 g of vitamin C orally for 12 weeks), and the control group (on a placebo for the same period). Only 55 patients completed the study (28 in the intervention group and 27 in the control group). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C%) and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at the beginning and after 12 weeks.

Results

The HbA1C percentage significantly decreased in the intervention group, supplemented with vitamin C, after 12 weeks as compared to the placebo group. The body mass index did not change significantly after the intervention. The intervention group had 75% glycemic improvement, while only 33.3% of the subjects improved in the control group. Absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 42%, the number of patients in need of treatment (NNT) was 2.38, the relative risk (RR) was 0.37, and the relative risk reduction (RRR) was 62%.

Conclusions

Patients with type 2 diabetes may benefit from adding vitamin C to their routine management to control blood glucose.