Pilot Study Indicates Chromium Picolinate May Be Useful Treatment
For Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
San
Antonio TX, 15 October 2003
Results
of a new pilot study funded by the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) showed that daily supplementation with 1,000 mcg of chromium
as chromium picolinate significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity.
These
initial results offer a potential new nutritional therapy for approximately
2 million American women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
(PCOS). PCOS is a little-understood hormonal condition that is a
leading cause of infertility, and is associated with insulin resistance,
gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
Promising Nutritional
Therapy for 2 Million American Women Presented at American Society
for Reproductive Medicine Conference (ASRM)
This
study was presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society
for Reproductive Medicine Conference (ASRM) in San Antonio, Texas
and appears in a supplement to Fertility and Sterility, September
2003.
In
an effort to build on limited PCOS treatment options, researchers
at the State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook, analyzed
the effects of nutritional supplementation with chromium in the
form of Chromax(R) chromium picolinate on six women with PCOS. Results
showed that glucose disposal rate (insulin sensitivity) was significantly
increased by an average of 35% after two months of treatment, and
baseline insulin levels decreased by 22%.
"Chromium
picolinate, which has positive effects on insulin sensitivity in
people with type 2 diabetes, looks like it has great potential as
a safe, effective long-term therapy to fill a void in treating PCOS,"
said Michael L. Lydic, MD, assistant professor at SUNY Reproductive
Endocrinology Division, who led the study. "If larger, controlled
trials confirm chromium picolinate's efficacy, PCOS patients could
potentially take the supplement every day to decrease their risk
of diabetes and possibly improve other physical and symptomatic
effects of PCOS. It also has potential to be used in combination
with prescription insulin-sensitizing drugs."
Today
there is no FDA-approved drug specifically to treat PCOS. Some doctors
prescribe insulin-sensitizing agents, such as metformin. However,
many women experience unwanted side effects such as nausea, diarrhea,
and loss of appetite, making ongoing treatment for insulin resistance
prohibitive. Dr. Lydic added, "Our goal is to explore potential
long-term therapies to bring insulin resistance under control and
decrease risk of diabetes. Ideally, we hope to compare chromium
picolinate with metformin in a clinical setting."
"An
emerging body of research continues to confirm the hypothesis that
chromium insufficiency is an important nutritional factor in insulin
resistance which is strongly associated with the type 2 diabetes
epidemic," said Gail Montgomery, President and CEO. "It is rewarding
to see that Chromax supplementation shows promise as an affordable,
convenient therapeutic option for women suffering from PCOS."
Clinical Design
The
study was a non-randomized, prospective study, which included six
women of reproductive age (18-42 years old) with PCOS and signs
of insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp tests,
the most accurate measure of insulin sensitivity, were used on all
subjects.
Researchers
measured hormonal, physical and symptomatic effects of improved
insulin function. They reported that one subject without menstrual
cycles, who had the largest change in glucose disposal rate, had
a spontaneous menstrual period after 2 months. No adverse side effects
were reported among the study participants.
The
study was funded by NIH grant (#M01RR10710), and product was supplied
by Nutrition 21, Inc.
About Chromium
Chromium
is an essential mineral that is needed for insulin activity in carbohydrate,
fat and protein metabolism. Numerous clinical trials have shown
that chromium as chromium picolinate reduces insulin resistance,
improves blood sugar control and may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular
disease and type 2 diabetes.
About Nutrition
21
Nutrition
21 is an industry leader in using pharmaceutical quality research
to substantiate the health benefits of nutritional supplements.
It holds 22 patents for chromium compounds and their uses, and 13
other nutrition patents. The Company's proprietary technologies
focus on chromium picolinate and its relationship to insulin resistance,
a condition implicated in type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease,
obesity and depression. Nutrition 21 markets Chromax(R) chromium
picolinate, the leading chromium ingredient used in supplements.
The Company is developing its first branded product, Diachrome(TM),
for people with type 2 diabetes intended to be marketed through
healthcare channels.
More
information is available at www.nutrition21.com, www.chromax.com,
and www.diachrome.com.
Source
Nutrition
21, Inc.
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