Chromium and Insulin Resistance

Overview

Chromium is an essential nutrient for the maintenance of normal glucose tolerance and its deficiency causes insulin resistance. Chromium administration has also been shown in several studies to lower glucose and insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Accordingly, we propose to perform a placebo-controlled study of chromium picolinate administration in a cohort of non-obese, non-diabetic, insulin resistant subjects. These subjects will be randomized to 16 weeks of therapy with either 500 mcg twice a day of Chromium or placebo.

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Prevention
    • Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: July 2009

Detailed Description

Chromium is an essential nutrient for the maintenance of normal glucose tolerance and its deficiency causes insulin resistance. Chromium administration has also been shown in several studies to lower glucose and insulin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, studies in humans, animals and cell culture indicate that chromium enhances insulin signaling. While these studies suggest that chromium administration increases insulin sensitivity, it has not been directly demonstrated that chromium has an effect in well defined insulin resistant subjects independent of hyperglycemia. Accordingly, we propose to perform a placebo-controlled study of chromium picolinate administration in a cohort of non-obese, non-diabetic, insulin resistant subjects. The insulin sensitivity of 80 subjects will be measured by a euglycemic insulin clamp. Approximately 40 insulin resistant subjects will be randomized to 16 weeks of therapy with either 500 ug twice a day of chromium picolinate or placebo. To quantitate the chromium-induced improvements, euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps to evaluate insulin sensitivity, OGTT using deuterated glucose to evaluate glycolytic glucose disposal, and muscle biopsies to evaluate insulin signaling pathways, will be performed before and after treatment. We believe these studies will (1) confirm the beneficial effect of chromium on insulin sensitivity; (2) further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of chromium action; and (3) because these insulin resistant subjects are at risk for the development of type 2 diabetes, the Metabolic Syndrome, and coronary artery disease (CAD), a demonstration of the beneficial effects of chromium on insulin action could ultimately have important public health consequences.

Interventions

  • Dietary Supplement: Chromium
    • We will enroll non-obese, non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance in a 16 week treatment program with 500 μg of chromium picolinate twice daily. Insulin action will be determined by insulin clamp and OGTT using deuterated glucose both before and after treatment. Subjects will be compared to a placebo-treated group.
  • Dietary Supplement: placebo
    • We will enroll non-obese, non-diabetic subjects with insulin resistance in a 16 week treatment program with 500 μg of chromium picolinate twice daily. Insulin action will be determined by insulin clamp and OGTT using deuterated glucose both before and after treatment. Subjects will be compared to a placebo-treated group.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Active Comparator: 1
    • Chromium picolinate
  • Placebo Comparator: 2
    • 2 sugar pills taken twice daily

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • insulin resistance
    • Time Frame: 0 months and 4 months

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Not exercising regularly, healthy, non-diabetic. Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis, HIV, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal liver enzymes, abnormal TSH levels, other abnormal lab values.

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 20 Years

Maximum Age: 50 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • University of California, San Francisco
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Umesh Masharani, MD, Principal Investigator, University of California, San Francisco
    • Martha Nolte, MD, Principal Investigator, University of California, San Francisco

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