Hydrogen sulfide, which is also known as swamp gas, could play a role in preventing some of the complications of diabetes, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch say.
According to the study, hydrogen sulfide is present in the human body, albeit in limited amounts, and it plays a protective role in the circulatory system. The study used diabetic rats and assessed the importance the sulfide plays in protecting diabetics from blood vessel damage,damage to the small vessels in the eyes and kidneys are just two of the problems associated with patients who have had diabetes for a long time.
The researchers tested what would happen if endothelial cells (the cells from deep inside the blood vessels) were exposed to a high concentration of sugar as Dr. Csaba Szabo, a UTMB professor and the paper’s lead author, commenting in a press release, explains:
“Upon exposure to such high sugar levels, the cells started to produce increasing amounts of highly reactive toxic free radicals, and as a consequence, they began to die.”
“Low hydrogen sulfide levels accelerated this process, while constant replacement of hydrogen sulfide protected the cells against the toxic effects of high sugar.”
Further research demonstrated that rats naturally have lower levels of hydrogen sulfide in their systems and the team also discovered that by treating the rats with hydrogen sulfide, the health of blood vessels improved.
In a press release Szabo said:
“The loss of endothelial cell function in diabetes is a first step that leads to many complications, such as eye disease, heart disease, kidney disease, foot disease and others.”
“The observation that hydrogen sulfide can control an early checkpoint in all of these processes may open the door for new therapies.”
New research that could lead to new approach for the complications of diabetes has to be a good thing especially when you look at the statistics relating to diabetic complications. According to figures from the American Diabetes Association, from 2005-2008, 4.2 million diabetics had retinopathy, a condition that means the small vessels bleed into the back of the eye, and in 2008 48,374 diabetics underwent treatment for end-stage kidney disease.
There are some supplements which may be beneficial to diabetics because of their protective effects on blood vessels. It is well documented that Bilberry helps to strengthen vessels and research has also shown that benfotiamine could protect against some of the complications of diabetes.
Sources:
http://www.utmb.edu/newsroom/article7068.aspx
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
http://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/bilberry-health-benefits.html
http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/benfotiamine-a-new-tool-in-preventing-diabetic-complications.htm
According to the study, hydrogen sulfide is present in the human body, albeit in limited amounts, and it plays a protective role in the circulatory system. The study used diabetic rats and assessed the importance the sulfide plays in protecting diabetics from blood vessel damage,damage to the small vessels in the eyes and kidneys are just two of the problems associated with patients who have had diabetes for a long time.
The researchers tested what would happen if endothelial cells (the cells from deep inside the blood vessels) were exposed to a high concentration of sugar as Dr. Csaba Szabo, a UTMB professor and the paper’s lead author, commenting in a press release, explains:
“Upon exposure to such high sugar levels, the cells started to produce increasing amounts of highly reactive toxic free radicals, and as a consequence, they began to die.”
“Low hydrogen sulfide levels accelerated this process, while constant replacement of hydrogen sulfide protected the cells against the toxic effects of high sugar.”
Further research demonstrated that rats naturally have lower levels of hydrogen sulfide in their systems and the team also discovered that by treating the rats with hydrogen sulfide, the health of blood vessels improved.
In a press release Szabo said:
“The loss of endothelial cell function in diabetes is a first step that leads to many complications, such as eye disease, heart disease, kidney disease, foot disease and others.”
“The observation that hydrogen sulfide can control an early checkpoint in all of these processes may open the door for new therapies.”
New research that could lead to new approach for the complications of diabetes has to be a good thing especially when you look at the statistics relating to diabetic complications. According to figures from the American Diabetes Association, from 2005-2008, 4.2 million diabetics had retinopathy, a condition that means the small vessels bleed into the back of the eye, and in 2008 48,374 diabetics underwent treatment for end-stage kidney disease.
There are some supplements which may be beneficial to diabetics because of their protective effects on blood vessels. It is well documented that Bilberry helps to strengthen vessels and research has also shown that benfotiamine could protect against some of the complications of diabetes.
Sources:
http://www.utmb.edu/newsroom/article7068.aspx
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
http://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/bilberry-health-benefits.html
http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/benfotiamine-a-new-tool-in-preventing-diabetic-complications.htm
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