Studies on Chromium Supplementation in Diabetes

High blood sugar in diabetes is due to less insulin production or resistance to insulin (body does not respond to insulin). Increase blood sugar can lead to complications of diabetes. Studies have shown that nutritional supplements like chromium and alpha lipoic acid plays an important role in the management of diabetes along with standard treatment of diabetes.

Chromium is an essential trace mineral, a mineral that is required by the body in small amount. It is required for metabolism of carbohydrate and fats, and it also helps cells to respond properly to insulin.

Chromium increases insulin binding to cells and insulin action on cell, which results in improvement of blood glucose control in diabetic patients. It also increases insulin receptor number on cells, a small structure on cell surface to which insulin binds and produces its effects on cell. Since chromium acts by increasing insulin efficiency, so lower amount of insulin is required in presence of chromium.

Studies have shown that high blood sugar in diabetes decreases chromium concentration in blood, so supplementation of chromium along with standard treatment of diabetes has been recommended in several clinical reports. Some latest clinical studies have also proved the safety and therapeutic value of chromium supplementation for the management of high cholesterol and sugar in subjects with diabetes.

A clinical study published in ‘Diabetes Care. (2006, August)’ has shown that chromium supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. Chromium supplementation also reduced body weight gain and fat accumulation.

Reduction in blood sugar & improvement in insulin sensitivity with chromium supplementation decreases the risk for diabetes complications.

A review article published in Diabetes technology & therapeutics (2006 December) has mentioned that 13 of 15 clinical studies involving a total of 1,690 subjects reported significant improvement in at least one outcome of glycemic control. (Glycemic control is a medical term used for blood sugar levels in a person with diabetes). Chromium supplementation had reduced blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and reduced requirements for drugs for diabetes.

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of chromium supplementation in elderly diabetic patients (published in International journal for vitamin and nutrition research, 2004 May). Chromium supplementation was given along with standard treatment for diabetes. Results of the study have shown that supplementation with chromium was beneficial in improvement of blood glucose control and also lowered blood lipid levels like cholesterol levels.

Along with chromium, alpha lipoic acid, vanadium and some other supplements like evening primrose oil, herbs like fenugreek also help in the management of diabetes.