The Role of Vitamins In Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Diseases: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities

Samuel Oluwaseun Alowoeshin; Osasere James Ehigiegba; Itoya Cynthia Michael-okpechi; Tobi Lawal; Richmore Chiamaka Ibeh; Hassan Juwon Ifedayo; Adaobi Mary-ann Okafor; Timothy Kwame Asem; Ejikeme Peter Igwe; Adewale Azeez Mubeen

doi:10.5455/EJSRR.20250428062221

Abstract
Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases are two major public health issues due to multiple interrelated processes such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic disorders. As the contemporary research arises and increases the knowledge regarding the profile of these molecules, vitamins are gradually revealed as key players in these pathophysiological processes. The following review systematically expounds on the importance of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and water soluble vitamins (C and the B-complex group) to DM and CVDs prevention and control. We can expect vitamins to have various operations through modulation of the gene expression, the promotion of oxidant and antioxidant status in cells, improvement of endothelial function, modulating immune functions and metabolic balance. These deficiencies are mainly involved with insulin resistance, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetic complications. Except for epidemiological data, RCTs show less consistent effects; thus, there is a need to focus on patients’ personalized gene, metabolic, and environmental characteristics. The present review embraces biochemical pathways, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies to give a systematic account on how the ideal vitamin levels affect cardiometabolic outcomes. The research perspectives focus on the individualized supplementation methods, casual factors for vitamin sensitivity determination, and the use of omics strategies in the clinical setting. Supplementing with vitamins since it has not been fully explored is a very useful approach that can help to reduce the incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases by taking adequate vitamins in diets. Implementing vitamin-specific individualistic therapies may effectively be an addition to the current form of treatment modalities with enhanced cardiometabolic health.

Key words: Inflammation, oxidative stress, B-complex,endothelial function, insulin resistance