Cor Vasa 2009, 51(4):274-278 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2009.067

Beneficial effect of antioxidants and polarized light on selected metabolic and echocardiographic parameters in diabetics

Patrik Palacka^1,*, Ján Murín², Jarmila Kucharská¹, Iveta Waczulíková³, Katarína Dostálová⁴, Mária Čížová⁵, Štefánia Moricová⁴, Anna Gvozdjáková¹

¹ Comenius University, Medical Faculty, Pharmacobiochemical Laboratory, 3rd Department of Medicine

² Comenius University, Medical Faculty, 1st Department of Medicine

³ Comenius University, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Division of Biomedical Physics

⁴ Angiology Outpatient Department

⁵ Diabetic Outpatient Department, Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Background: Enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and decreased antioxidant function play a role in the development of chronic diabetic complications.

Objective: To determine whether supplementation with antioxidants (coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), α-lipoic acid (ALA), α-tocopherol) and simultaneous polarized light (PL) application can improve selected metabolic and echocardiographic parameters of the left ventricle (LV) in diabetics.

Patients and methods: Twenty patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in a prospective study. Antioxidants were taken in two daily doses (60 mg hydrosoluble CoQ10, 100 mg ALA and 200 mg α-tocopherol) and PL was simultaneously applied on neuropathic diabetic ulcers (twice daily for 10 minutes in pulse regimen) for three months. Paired Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis at the baseline and after the three-month treatment.

Results: Supplementation with CoQ10, ALA and α-tocopherol with simultaneous PL application reduced plasma fibrinogen and lactate dehydrogenase activity, while plasma levels of CoQ10 and α-tocopherol were stimulated. An improvement was found in echocardiographic parameters.

Conclusions: Hydrosoluble CoQ10, ALA and α-tocopherol supplementation with simultaneous polarized light application increased the plasma concentrations of antioxidants, decreased lactate dehydrogenase activity, and improved selected LV echocardiographic parameters.

Keywords: Coenzyme Q10; α-Lipoic acid; α-tocopherol; Polarized light; Left ventricle; Neuropathic diabetic ulcers

Published: April 1, 2009  Show citation