Effects of water-soluble vitamins on glycemic control and insulin resistance in adult type 2 diabetes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2025 Feb;34(1):118-130. doi: 10.6133/apjcn.202502_34(1).0012.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Growing evidence has explored the effects of water-soluble vitamins supplementation on glycemic control and insulin resistance in diabetic patients; however, the results of previous meta-analyses are inconsistent. To address this, we conducted an umbrella review to synthesize the evidence on these effects.

Methods and study design: A systematic literature search in Web of science, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was performed from 2012 to November 2022. he quality of the meta-analyses was assessed using AMSTAR-2 and GRADE.

Results: Fourteen systematic reviews and meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria, examining the effects of five water-soluble vitamins (B-1, B-3, biotin, B-9, and C) on glycemic control and insulin resistance. The findings suggest that vitamin C supplementation can improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, as indicated by reduced FBG and HbA1c, with more significant effects observed for durations longer than 30 days.

Conclusions: Insulin resistance is improved by folic acid supplementations. More well-designed individual randomized controlled trials are needed in the future, as well as meta-analysis of higher quality.

Keywords: glycemic control; insulin resistance; type 2 diabetes; umbrella review; water-soluble vitamin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / drug therapy
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Glycemic Control* / methods
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Vitamins* / administration & dosage
  • Vitamins* / pharmacology
  • Vitamins* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Blood Glucose

Grants and funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.