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World J Diabetes. May 15, 2026; 17(5): 115619
Published online May 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v17.i5.115619
Published online May 15, 2026. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v17.i5.115619
Dual effects of synthetic phenolic antioxidants in type 2 diabetes mellitus: Mechanisms and advances
Xin Li, Peng-Cheng Yuan, Qian Gao, Qing-Qing Cao, Zhen Ma, Xuan Chen, Wen-Qian Huo, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
Chong-Jian Wang, Zhen-Xing Mao, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: Li X contributed to conceptualization, literature search, and writing the original draft; Yuan PC, Gao Q, Cao QQ, Ma Z, Chen X contributed to writing and editing the review; Wang CJ and Mao ZX contributed to conceptualization, writing and editing, and supervision; Huo WQ contributed to conceptualization, writing and editing, supervision, and funding acquisition.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 21806146; and the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China, No. 2021M702934.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Corresponding author: Wen-Qian Huo, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, No. 100 Kexue Avenue, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan Province, China. huowenqian@zzu.edu.cn
Received: October 24, 2025
Revised: December 17, 2025
Accepted: February 6, 2026
Published online: May 15, 2026
Processing time: 199 Days and 20.6 Hours
Revised: December 17, 2025
Accepted: February 6, 2026
Published online: May 15, 2026
Processing time: 199 Days and 20.6 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This review systematically elucidates the dual regulatory role of synthetic phenolic antioxidants in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, identifying the balance of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway as the core regulatory mechanism. However, current evidence predominantly comes from preclinical studies, making it difficult to extrapolate the findings to human populations.