ADA Release
Elevated Intakes
of Supplemental Chromium Improve Glucose and Insulin Variables
in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes
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Richard A. Anderson
Nanzheng Cheng
Noella A. Bryden
Marilyn M. Polansky
Nanping Cheng
Jiaming Chi
Jinguang Feng
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Chromium is an
essential nutrient involved in normal carbohydrate and lipid
metabolism. The chromium requirement is postulated to increase
with increased glucose intolerance and diabetes. The objective
of this study was to test the hypothesis that the elevated
intake of supplemental chromium is involved in the control
of type 2 diabetes.
Individuals being
treated for type 2 diabetes (180 men and women) were divided
randomly into three groups and supplemented with: 1) placebo,
2) 1.92 µmol (100 µg) Cr as chromium picolinate two times
per day, or 3) 9.6 µmol (500 µg) Cr two times per day. Subjects
continued to take their normal medications and were instructed
not to change their normal eating and living habits.
HbA1c values improved
significantly after 2 months in the group receiving 19.2 µmol
(1,000 µg) Cr per day and was lower in both chromium groups
after 4 months (placebo, 8.5 ± 0.2%; 3.85 µmol Cr, 7.5 ± 0.2%;
19.2 µmol Cr, 6.6 ± 0.1%). Fasting glucose was lower in the
19.2-µmol group after 2 and 4 months (4-month values: placebo,
8.8 ± 0.3 mmol/l; 19.2 µmol Cr, 7.1 ± 0.2 mmol/l).
Two-hour glucose
values were also significantly lower for the subjects consuming
19.2 µmol supplemental Cr after both 2 and 4 months (4-month
values: placebo, 12.3 ± 0.4 mmol/l; 19.2 µmol Cr, 10.5 ± 0.2
mmol/l). Fasting and 2-h insulin values decreased significantly
in both groups receiving supplemental chromium after 2 and
4 months.
Plasma total cholesterol
also decreased after 4 months in the subjects receiving 19.2
µmol/day Cr. These data demonstrate that supplemental chromium
had significant beneficial effects on HbA1c, glucose, insulin,
and cholesterol variables in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
The
beneficial effects of chromium in individuals with diabetes
were observed at levels higher than the upper limit of the
Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Dietary Intake. Diabetes
46:1786 , 1791, 1997.
