Abstract

Anderson R, Cheng N, Chi J, Feng J. Beneficial effects of chromium for people with type II diabetes. Diabetes 1996 45(Suppl 2):124A.

Chromium (Cr) is an essential nutrient required for normal carbohydrate and lipid metabolism but normal intake often appears to be suboptimal. In the present study, 180 adult type II diabetic subjects were divided randomly into 3 groups and supplemented with: 1) placebo; 2) 100 mg of Cr as Cr picolinate 2 times per day or 3) 500 mg of Cr as picolinate 2 times per day. Subjects continued to take their normal medications and were instructed not to change their eating and living habits. Glycated hemoglobin improved significantly after two months in the group receiving 1000 mg of chromium per day and was lower in both chromium groups after 4 months (placebo, 8.5 + 0.2: 200 mg Cr, 7.5 + 0.2 and 1000 mg, 6.6 + 0.1%). Fasting glucose was lower in the 1000 mg group after 2 and 4 months (4 month value for placebo, 8.8 + 0.3 and 1000 mg, 7.1 + 0.2 mmol/L). Two hour meal tolerance glucose values were also significantly lower for the subjects consuming 1000 mg of supplemental Cr after both 2 and 4 month (4 month value for placebo, 12.3 + 0.4 and 10.5 + 0.2 mmol/L for the 100 mg group). Fasting and two hour meal tolerance insulin values decreased significantly in both groups receiving supplemental Cr after 2 and 4 months. Plasma total cholesterol also decreased after 4 months in the group receiving 1000 mg of Cr. These data demonstrate that supplemental Cr had significant beneficial effects on cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin, glucose and insulin variables of subject with type II diabetes. The beneficial effects were greater in the group receiving 500 mg 2 times per day than the group receiving 100 mg 2 times per day.