For those struggling with type-2 diabetes, the symptoms and side effects seem to keep piling up. Unfortunately, that long list includes memory impairment.

But, for once, there is good news. A new study in the journal Nutrition Research shows that reducing oxidative stress might help alleviate the problem.

And it couldn't be easier.

Based on studies that revealed increased oxidative stress after a high-fat meal, University of Toronto nutrition researchers wondered if oxidative stress contributed to post-meal memory deficits they noticed in prior research.

The UT team recruited 16 type-2 diabetics with an average age of 65 who did not use antioxidant supplements. Each subject was given cognitive tests following three separate interventions:

1) A high-fat meal

2) The same high-fat meal, taken with one gram of vitamin C and 800 IU of vitamin E

3) Water

Results:

• Subjects tested poorly in working memory and delayed verbal recall 105 minutes after the high-fat meal, compared to water intake
• After the high-fat meal with antioxidant supplements, subjects tested much better – virtually the same as with water intake

So in addition to confirming their theory that oxidative stress plays a role in memory impairment, the UT team also showed just how effective a couple of antioxidant supplements can be when high doses are taken with a meal.

Well done, guys!

Don't add carbs

This isn't the first trial from the University of Toronto to examine the effects of diet on memory function in type 2 diabetes.

In a similar study, published in Diabetes Care (2003), another UT team confirmed that poor glycemic control was linked to lower scores on memory tests. In addition, they found that an intake of high glycemic carbohydrate foods "contributed to the underlying memory impairment."

Antioxidants were not tested in this study, so we'll need further evidence before we can conclusively state that supplements improve memory impairment in type-2 diabetics. In the meantime, there's no doubt that a diet that scores low on the glycemic index can help improve glycemic control.

If the glycemic index is new to you, you can find more information about this invaluable resource in the e-Alert "Eye to the Future".

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