Chromium Picolinate Important for Insulin Resistance and Chronic Disease
Boston MA, 1 April 2003

Leading Experts Convene at Chromium Research Summit Sponsored by the Council for the Advancement of Diabetes Research and Education (CADRE)

Leading scientific researchers presented the latest epidemiological and clinical data on the role of chromium picolinate supplementation in chronic disease at the Council for the Advancement of Diabetes Research and Education (CADRE) Research Summit: Chromium in Health and Disease. Recent research suggests that chromium enhances insulin action which may help lower some risk factors for diseases associated with insulin resistance, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and atypical depression.

Insulin resistance is a condition associated with obesity and is also strongly related to hypertension, lipid disorders and cardiovascular disease. "Prior human studies have suggested that chromium picolinate decreases insulin levels and improves blood sugar metabolism in both obese people and people with type 2 diabetes," stated William T. Cefalu, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and co-chair of the CADRE Summit. "This summit is important because not only will leading experts present relevant data regarding clinical observations with this nutrient, but precise studies assessing the mechanism of action will be presented," added Cefalu.

Chromium is an essential mineral that potentiates insulin, a hormone that influences carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. "There is a widespread tendency toward increased consumption of highly processed foods such as refined sugar which is not only low in chromium, but also stimulates chromium losses," states Richard Anderson, PhD, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. "Essentially all the studies using chromium picolinate supplementation for impaired glucose intolerance and diabetes showed a positive effect," added Anderson.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) reviewed the scientific literature on chromium picolinate and did not find any basis to set an Upper Limit (UL), meaning that there were no substantive concerns about safety of chromium at any of the levels used in relevant studies. "This review included human studies of supplemental chromium (as chromium picolinate) up to 1000 micrograms (mcg) per day and there were no observed adverse effects from intake of chromium, hence chromium picolinate is safe," commented John Hathcock, PhD, vice president, scientific and international affairs of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN).

About the Council for the Advancement of Diabetes Research and Education

The Council for the Advancement of Diabetes Research and Education (CADRE) is a not-for-profit organization committed to reducing the devastating complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes through achievement of tight metabolic control. To achieve this goal, CADRE provides health care professionals with scientific information and educational programs that support, highlight, and promote practical guidelines for patient education and management as well as cutting-edge research in diabetes pathophysiology and treatment.

CADRE programs are funded by educational grants from Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc, and Nutrition 21. For more information about CADRE's mission and programs, visit www.cadre-diabetes.org.

Source

Council for the Advancement of Diabetes Research and Education.