Insulin Resistance & Diabetes

Here are a number of key, representative studies in this area using chromium picolinate.

1999

• William T. Cefalu, Audrey D. Bell-Farrow, Jane Stegner, Zhong Q. Wang, Telle King, Tim Morgan and James G. Terry. “Effect of chromium picolinate on insulin sensitivity in vivo,” Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine 12:17-83, 1999.

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of chromium picolinate (CP) in 29 people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, participants were given either 1,000 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP), or placebo, for eight months. The patients who received the chromium supplements showed a significant improvement (increase) in insulin sensitivity at four months and at eight months. These benefits were seen in the absence of significant changes in body fat distribution, suggesting that CP can beneficially affect insulin sensitivity independent of changes in weight or body fat percentage, thereby implying a direct influence on muscle insulin action. This study indicates that CP supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity in individuals who are clinically obese and pre-diabetic.

• Lois Jovanovic-Peterson, MD, FACN, Mario Gutierrez and Charles M. Peterson, MD. “Chromium supplementation for women with gestational diabetes mellitus,” Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine 12:17-83, 1999.

In this study, 20 women with gestational diabetes were divided into two groups, 10 of whom received 4 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate daily per kg of body weight (mcg/kg) and 10 of whom received a dummy pill; 10 additional women received 8 mcg/kg of chromium as chromium picolinate daily. After eight weeks, the supplemented groups achieved significantly improved postprandial (after meal) glucose and insulin levels. The authors conclude that, “Chromium supplementation for gestational diabetic women improves glucose tolerance and lowers hyperinsulinemia.”

1998

• Richard A . Anderson, PhD. “Chromium, glucose intolerance and diabetes,” Journal of the American College of Nutrition 17(6):548-555, 1998.

In this landmark review, over 30 years of studies using chromium for type 2 diabetes were analyzed by the USDA’s Richard A. Anderson. “Chromium picolinate has been shown to be more effective than other types of chromium in improving the variables associated with diabetes,” wrote Anderson, “with more improvements occurring at higher doses.” Overall, the chromium studies showed improvements in glucose and cholesterol levels in people receiving 200 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate, “with a better response at 1,000 mcg daily. Anderson concluded that, “The benefits of chromium supplementation seem to be related to the form and amount of chromium, with many studies demonstrating the positive effects of chromium supplementation in individuals with type 2 diabetes in a dose-dependent fashion.”

1997

• Richard Anderson, Nanzheng Cheng, Noella A. Bryden, Marilyn M. Polansky, Nanping Cheng, Jiaming Chi and Jinguang Feng. “Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improves glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes,” Diabetes 46:1786-1791, 1997.

One hundred eighty (180) people being treated for type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into three groups and supplemented with: (1) 200 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate a day [CP], (2) 1000 mcg of CP a day, or (3) a placebo. Supplemental chromium was shown to have dramatic effects on glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Significant, sustained reductions in diabetic symptoms were especially noted in those who received 1,000 mcg a day daily of CP.

1989.

• Gary W. Evans. “The effect of chromium picolinate on insulin controlled parameters in humans,” International Journal of Biosocial Medical Research 11(2):163-180, 1989.

In four separate studies, the author looked at chromium picolinate’s effects on insulin. In the first study, a double-blind crossover trial, 200 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP) were given to 14 hypercholesterolemic patients for six weeks. Total cholesterol, LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol and its transport protein, apolipoprotein B, were significantly decreased while levels of HDL (or “good”) cholesterol and its transport protein, apolipoprotein A, were beneficially raised. In the second study, which was conducted with “adult onset, noninsulin-dependent” people with diabetes, the supplemented participants received 200 mcg a day of CP; the results of this study showed a significant drop in blood sugar levels--an average of 32 mg/dL (or 18 percent) and in LDL (or “bad” cholesterol), which decreased by 8 mg/dL (or eight percent). In the other two studies, Evans looked at 200 mcg of CP per day in healthy people who engaged in regular weightlifting. In both studies, the participants increased lean body mass; in one of these two studies, there was also decreased body fat. Overall, in six weeks of chromium picolinate supplementation over 80 percent of the subjects responded positively to the supplementation.

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