Reversal of corticosteroid-induced diabetes mellitus with supplemental chromium.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the stress of corticosteroid treatment increases chromium (Cr) losses and if corticosteroid-induced diabetes (steroid diabetes) can be reversed by supplemental chromium.


METHODS
The effects of corticosteroid treatment on chromium losses of 13 patients 2 days prior to steroid administration and the first 3 days following treatment were determined. Since steroid-induced diabetes was associated with increased chromium losses and insufficient dietary chromium is associated with glucose intolerance and diabetes, we treated three patients with steroid-induced diabetes with 600 microg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate.


RESULTS
Urinary chromium losses following corticosteroid treatment increased from 155+/-28 ng/d before corticosteroid treatment to 244+/-33 ng/d in the first 3 days following treatment. Chromium supplementation of patients with steroid-induced diabetes resulted in decreases in fasting blood glucose values from greater than 13.9 mmol/l (250 mg/dl) to less than 8.3 mmol/l (150 mg/dl). Hypoglycaemic drugs were also reduced 50% in all patients when given supplemental chromium.


CONCLUSIONS
These data demonstrate that corticosteroid treatment increases chromium losses and that steroid-induced diabetes can be reversed by chromium supplementation. Follow-up, double-blind studies are needed to confirm these observations.
Ravina
A
A
Department of Diabetes, The Linn Clinic, Oranim University of Haifa, Israel.
Slezak
L
L
Mirsky
N
N
Bryden
N A
NA
Anderson
R A
RA
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D002857:Chromium / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000652:urine; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002857:Chromium