Does vitamin C supplementation exert profitable effects on serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes? A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Namkhah et al., 2021 | Pharmacol Res | Meta Analysis

Citation

Namkhah Zahra, Ashtary-Larky Damoon, ... Asbaghi Omid. Does vitamin C supplementation exert profitable effects on serum lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes? A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Pharmacol Res. 2021-Jul;169:105665. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105665

Abstract

Previous studies have reported that vitamin C supplementation may decrease lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the influence of vitamin C supplementation on lipid profile in patients with T2DM. Studies examining the effects of vitamin C supplementation on lipid profile in patients with T2DM, published up to November 2020, were identified through PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase databases. 15 studies, including 872 participants, were included and analyzed using a random-effects model to calculate weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Findings from 15 studies indicated that vitamin C supplementation significantly decreased Triglyceride (TG) (WMD: -16.48 mg/dl, 95% CI (-31.89, -1.08), P < 0.001) and total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: -13.00 mg/dl, 95% CI (-23.10, -2.91), P < 0.001) in patients with T2DM. However, vitamin C supplementation failed to improve LDL and HDL. The meta-regression analysis suggested that lipid profile improvement was affected by duration of vitamin C treatment. Dose-response analysis showed that vitamin C supplementation changed LDL significantly based on vitamin C dose. According to our findings, vitamin C supplementation significantly improved lipid profile via decreases in TG and TC. However, vitamin C failed to affect LDL and HDL in diabetic populations. It appears that vitamin C supplementation is more beneficial to lipid profile in long-term vs. short term interventions.

Key Findings

short term interventions.

Outcomes Measured

• Requires manual extraction

Population

MeSH Terms

• Ascorbic Acid
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
• Dietary Supplements
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Humans
• Lipid Metabolism
• Lipids

Evidence Classification

• Level: Meta Analysis
• Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
• Vertical: vitamin-c

Provenance

• PMID: 33984490
• DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105665
• PMCID: Not in PMC
• Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09