Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation has been suggested to improve glycemia, but there are conflicting reports on efficacy. We sought to determine the effect of CrPic on insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, and body composition in subjects with type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
Thirty-seven subjects with type 2 diabetes were evaluated. After baseline, subjects were placed on a sulfonylurea (glipizide gastrointestinal therapeutic system 5 mg/day) with placebo for 3 months. Subjects were then randomized in a double-blind fashion to receive either the sulfonylurea plus placebo (n = 12) or the sulfonylurea plus 1,000 microg Cr as CrPic (n = 17) for 6 months. Body composition, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control were determined at baseline, end of the 3-month single-blind placebo phase, and end of study.


RESULTS
Subjects randomized to sulfonylurea/placebo, as opposed to those randomized to sulfonylurea/CrPic, had a significant increase in body weight (2.2 kg, P < 0.001 vs. 0.9 kg, P = 0.11), percent body fat (1.17%, P < 0.001 vs. 0.12%, P = 0.7), and total abdominal fat (32.5 cm(2), P < 0.05 vs. 12.2 cm(2), P < 0.10) from baseline. Subjects randomized to sulfonylurea/CrPic had significant improvements in insulin sensitivity corrected for fat-free mass (28.8, P < 0.05 vs. 15.9, P = 0.4), GHb (-1.16%, P < 0.005 vs. -0.4%, P = 0.3), and free fatty acids (-0.2 mmol/l, P < 0.001 vs. -0.12 mmol/l, P < 0.03) as opposed to sulfonylurea/placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that CrPic supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes who are taking sulfonylurea agents significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. Further, CrPic supplementation significantly attenuated body weight gain and visceral fat accumulation compared with the placebo group.
Martin
Julie
J
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
Wang
Zhong Q
ZQ
Zhang
Xian H
XH
Wachtel
Deborah
D
Volaufova
Julia
J
Matthews
Dwight E
DE
Cefalu
William T
WT
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D010848:Picolinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D007328:Insulin; D010848:Picolinic Acids; C030614:picolinic acid