To investigate the effects of daily chromium supplementation for 6 months at 2 dose levels on serum measures of glucose tolerance and endothelial function in adults with a higher-than-normal risk of developing diabetes.
Further Study Details:
Researchers have been looking for safe, effective, and low-cost ways to prevent and/or treat diabetes. Use of chromium is widespread, but evidence of therapeutic effect is limited. Chromium is a mineral that plays a role in the body’s control of blood glucose, and prior research has suggested that chromium may be helpful in treating Type 2 diabetes. This study examined the effects of chromium on glucose tolerance and endothelial function in people at risk of developing diabetes. The study followed a group of 59 adults (38 women and 21 men) with an average age of 57 years. It investigated the effects of chromium on:blood pressureanthropometric measuresweightwaist circumferencebody mass indexmeasures of diabetes riskfasting glucose levelsinsulin levelsinsulin resistanceoral glucose tolerance testhemoglobin A1c levelsbrachial artery endothelial functionlipid profilestotal cholesterolHDLLDLtriglyceridestotal cholesterol/HDL ratioand urinary measures of microalbumin and the albumin/creatinine ratioParticipants were randomly assigned to a daily dose of either 500 or 1000 micrograms (mcg) of chromium for a period of 6 months. During another 6-month period, each person also received a placebo (inactive substance) for comparison.
Findings:
Neither dose (500 mcg or 1000 mcg) of chromium led to any significant changes in any of those measures listed above. During the course of the study, 5 participants developed Type 2 diabetes. Based on results from our study it does not appear that chromium can help prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. Other recently-published studies also support our findings.
Eligibility:
Adult men and women with impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose, or insulin resistance.
Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center