Chromium Supplementation Lowers Glucose, Lipid Levels
Chromium has been recommended for years for sugar handling problems, and is nicknamed GTF, glucose tolerance factor. It is not a stretch to believe that it can lower cholesterol levels as well. Since insulin stimulates HMG-CoA reductase, the enzyme that makes endogenous cholesterol, and chromium can lower the need for insulin, it’s a rational train of thought. This study dropped HbA1c levels with no side effects, and even very small changes in HbA1c result in major benefits of end organ damage.
(article) Dietary supplementation with chromium decreased glucose and lipid levels in type 2 diabetics enrolled in an active rehabilitation program, Dr. Haim Rabinovitz reported here in a poster presentation at a meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. In addition to receiving standard diabetes treatment, all subjects were given 200 mcg of chromium twice a day for 3 weeks. Participants were placed on a low-sugar diet of 1500 calories a day. Blood samples, dietary intake, and anthropometric data were collected before and after supplementation. The researchers found a significant decrease in the subjects’ fasting blood glucose levels, from an average of 189 mg/dL to 150 mg/dL. Their hemoglobin A1c levels also improved, falling from an average of 8.15 to 7.58. Total cholesterol dropped from 225.26 mg/dL to 211.42 mg/dL. Triglyceride levels fell from 152 mg/dL to 136 mg/dL. Chromium appears to work by increasing the sensitivity of the patients’ insulin receptors, so they are able to use the insulin more effectively, Dr. Rabinovitz explained. There have been no side effects from it, he added.