The Importance of Antioxidants for Pancreatic Health

Keeping your blood sugar stable for life is directly impacted by the nutritional status of your pancreas. Just like your heart, brain, and other organs need foundational nutrients for healthy function, so does your pancreas. Read on to learn about some surprising and vital nutrients for your pancreas and insulin production.

Endocrine Function of the Pancreas

The pancreas has a dual role as both an exocrine and endocrine organ. As an exocrine organ, the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes to help break down foods. You can learn more about this in my recent article, The Pancreas, Digestion, and Best Enzymes to Supplement.

The endocrine function of the pancreas pertains to the production and secretion of hormones. The main hormones secreted are insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. Insulin and glucagon regulate the level of glucose or sugar in the blood, whereas somatostatin prevents the release of insulin and glucagon.

Insulin is produced by specialized cells called beta cells in the pancreas. They are clustered into small groups called “islets of Langerhans” throughout the pancreas. Alpha cells produce glucagon.

Insulin is the energy-storage hormone. After you consume food and some beverages, insulin transports carbs, fats, and proteins to cells for energy as blood sugar and fatty acids. Any carbs, fats, or proteins leftover are then stored primarily as fat. Insulin also helps your body utilize your electrolytes – potassium, magnesium, and phosphate.

Pancreas and Oxidative Stress

The pancreas is a high energy organ. As it works to make and secrete insulin and other hormones in response to dietary intake, high levels of oxidative stress occur. Free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are produced within the mitochondria and other parts of the pancreas. ROS are highly toxic free radicals that must be quenched by antioxidants.

The pancreas however does not store large amounts of antioxidants and is extraordinarily sensitive to free radical stress. If the tissue supply of antioxidants is lacking, then free radicals damage beta cells and other cells in the pancreas which affects insulin and other hormone production and secretion. Changes in beta cell function from chronic oxidative stress commonly happens 10-12 years or more before it is found in common blood sugar tests!

In addition to the free radicals produced from the natural work of the pancreas, other sources of oxidative stress can affect the beta cells. Increased blood sugar levels, high fat, high sugar diets, and environmental toxins (PCBs and others) that are endocrine disrupting compounds also cause free radical damage to beta cells in the pancreas.

Furthermore, there are other factors that stress beta cell function in life. Risk factors include C-section birth, higher birth weight, older maternal age, low intake of vegetables of mother during pregnancy, infections, gut dysbiosis, and early exposure as infants to cereals, root vegetables, eggs, and cow’s milk.

In addition, high fructose intake, high glycemic load foods, steroid treatment, being overweight, high stress, gluten intolerance, SARS-CoV-2, Candida and mitochondrial stress have been shown to interfere with beta cell function.

Antioxidants for Pancreas

Numerous antioxidants are required to protect beta cells, alpha cells, and mitochondria in the pancreas. Here is the latest research on daily nutrients for the pancreas.

Vitamin A

When you think about vitamin A, you likely think about vision and perhaps immune health. Studies show that vitamin A directly impacts pancreatic endocrine function with insulin.

Animal studies showed that borderline low intake of vitamin A during pregnancy reduced the size and shape of pancreatic beta cells by as much as 50% in the offspring. This resulted in lower blood levels of insulin and higher amounts of glucose in the blood.

Other studies in adult mice demonstrated that insufficient intake of dietary vitamin A led to several changes in the pancreas. These included decreased beta cell mass, substantial beta-cell apoptosis or cell death, smaller islet size, and elevated glucagon levels that affect blood sugar management.

The authors noted that “pancreatic beta-cells are exquisitely sensitive to vitamin A deficiency-associated apoptosis compared with other cell types in other organs.” When vitamin A was reintroduced into the diet, the pancreatic physiology and blood sugar management was restored.

More information about vitamin A may be found in the article, Vitamin A – An Essential Nutrient for Immune, Respiratory, and Gut Health.

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1, or thiamin, plays several important roles in carbohydrate metabolism and energy production. It is also required for pancreatic health. Beta-cells use thiamin for insulin production and cell growth.

Clinical trials showed thiamin supplementation provided substantial modulation of pancreatic oxidative stress markers in pregnant women with blood sugar dysregulation.

Learn more about thiamin in the article, Vitamin B1/Thiamin – Are You Getting Enough?

Vitamin B2

Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, is involved with numerous mitochondria and metabolic functions for burning carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in your body. Riboflavin must be obtained in the diet as the pancreas cannot make it. Riboflavin also helps to activate vitamin B6 and folate.

In the pancreas, cellular research shows that riboflavin provides beta cell protection as it reduces free radical levels and production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6.

Learn more about riboflavin and all B vitamins in the article, B Vitamin Deficiency: Are You at Risk?

Omega-3 DHA

Research demonstrates the high importance of omega-3 DHA for beta cells as it reduces ROS production inside mitochondria and within cells of the pancreas. DHA inhibits activation of damaging compounds like NF-Kappa B, TNF-alpha, and inflammatory cytokines.

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin, a carotenoid rich compound, also provides antioxidant support for beta cell protection. Cellular studies published in 2022 showed that astaxanthin protected mitochondria from the stress of high blood sugar. This reduced cellular DNA damage and apoptosis of pancreatic beta cells.

Glutathione and NAC

Glutathione is a master antioxidant required by all tissues in your body including your beta cells. Glutathione levels decline with pancreatic beta cell stress.

N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), another antioxidant, helps protect beta cells and quench free radicals from environmental toxins such as PCBs and the stress of drugs such as glucocorticoids/Dexamethasone. NAC supports glutathione production.

Zinc

Over 80 years of research demonstrates that zinc is deeply involved with beta and alpha cells, insulin, and glucagon function. In fact, some of the highest amount of zinc in your body is stored in the pancreatic islets. Dietary insufficiency, poor absorption, and high need because of other challenges affects zinc’s powerful role in pancreas function and a breakdown in homeostasis.

Zinc is commonly lacking in diets. Once you are deficient in zinc, it can take up to 24 months of zinc supplementation to replenish tissue stores. For more information, check out the article Zinc Essential for Immunity, Sense of Smell, and More.

Melatonin and GABA

Interestingly, your sleep hormone melatonin and the primary relaxing neurotransmitter GABA provide protection to pancreatic beta cells from oxidative stress. These findings are highly important for individuals with disrupted circadian rhythms such as shift workers and others with disrupted sleep that often affect blood sugar health.

Cellular studies demonstrated that melatonin decreased aging and apoptosis of beta cells and improved insulin secretion in response to glucose.

GABA activates the anti-aging compound SIRT-1 and energy compound NAD (+). This was shown to increase insulin production and protect beta cells against spontaneous apoptosis.

Nutritional Resources

While you may think about vitamin A for eye health, zinc for immune function, vitamins B1 and B2 for energy, melatonin for sleep, and so forth, your pancreas needs these nutrients too. The health and functionality of your pancreas beta cells starts during prenatal growth and development and is needed for life. The factors listed above place sustained demands on beta cells. Over the course of years and decades, the number and function of beta cells decline affecting your insulin and blood sugar management.

Whether it’s a childhood of junk food or lifetime of consuming the nutrient poor Western diet, environmental toxins, or gut flora imbalances, etc, your beta cells need support and protection just like the rest of your body.

Consider foundational support such as Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin, Daily Protector Eye & Immune, and Daily DHA. We also offer the Daily Super Pack, a convenience pack for all of your “daily needs.”

Additional support includes Astaxanthin, Glutathione Ultra, Strengthener Plus, Melatonin, and Sleep Helper.

These supplements may be used with other nutrients commonly used for blood sugar management, i.e., Cinnamon Plus, Gluco Plus, LeptiSlim, R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, Daily Detoxify and others. Your pancreas needs nutrient nourishment for a lifetime. How is your A1C management?

Additional Resources

A1C Made Simple: Your Guide to Keeping Blood Sugar in Check

Thyroid Meds Increase Risk for Elevated Blood Sugar

Insulin, Leptin, and Blood Sugar – Why Diabetic Medication Fails

Blood Sugar Affects Heart Rhythm

How to Eat for Blood Sugar Health

Chromium: A Trace Mineral for Blood Sugar and Carbohydrate Cravings