Research

Micronutrients & recovery

Antioxidant supplements (zinc, lipoic acid, carnitine, cinnamon, green tea, and possibly vitamin C plus E) provide only marginal benefits for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes, whereas antioxidant-rich foods are recommended as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Do not rely on antioxidant supplements to fix obesity or diabetes. The evidence shows only marginal benefits for specific supplements like zinc, lipoic acid, and carnitine. Instead, focus on consuming antioxidant-rich whole foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts) as part of a broader lifestyle that includes weight management and exercise. Supplements are not a substitute for these foundational habits.

ModerateQualifiesMEDIUM confidence
the literature presents reasonable evidence for marginal benefits of supplementation with zinc, lipoic acid, carnitine, cinnamon, green tea, and possibly vitamin C plus E... Overall, antioxidant supplements are not a panacea to compensate for a fast-food and video-game way of living, but antioxidant-rich foods are recommended as part of the lifestyle.
Daniyal Abdali et al. · Medical Principles and Practice · 2015

Why this rating

The paper is a review of heterogeneous studies with varying methodologies, doses, and outcomes, leading to mixed results.

Source

How Effective Are Antioxidant Supplements in Obesity and Diabetes?

Daniyal Abdali et al. · Medical Principles and Practice · 2015

narrative_reviewCited 213×
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