title: Homologous physiological effects of phenformin and chromium picolinate.
abstract: The insulin-sensitizing drug phenformin, in addition to its clinical utility in type II diabetes, has been reported to lower blood lipids, reduce body fat, enhance cellular immunity, and--in rodents--to increase mean lifespan and retard the development of growth of cancer. Initial studies with the insulin-sensitizing nutrient chromium picolinate indicate that it aids glucose tolerance in type II diabetes, lowers elevated LDL cholesterol, reduces body fat while increasing lean mass, and--in rats--increases median lifespan. These effects are thus analogous to those reported for phenformin; chromium picolinate should be tested to determine whether it likewise has a favorable impact on cellular immunity and cancer risk. The ability of both phenformin and chromium picolinate to increase lifespan suggests that age-related insulin resistance may play a profound role in the aging process. It may not be coincidental that caloric restriction--the best documented technique for increasing lifespan--markedly increases insulin sensitivity. Safe, appropriate measures for promoting lifelong insulin sensitivity include a low-fat diet, exercise training, and supplemental chromium picolinate.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition 21, San Diego, CA 92109.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McCarty
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control; D010629:Phenformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010848:Picolinic Acids; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C027786:glucose receptor; D010629:Phenformin; C030614:picolinic acid