Chromium and Insulin Action

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes

• Registration Number: NCT00283777
• Lead Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Brief Summary

The effect of Chromium to improve glucose levels in diabetes is controversial. The hypothesis of the study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing the diet of individuals with Type 2 diabetes with chromium picolinate and assessing the effect on blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity

Detailed Description

The primary clinical strategy to improve metabolic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes consists of lifestyle modification combined with pharmacologic intervention. However, alternative strategies, e.g. nutritional supplementation with over-the-counter agents, are extensively practiced by a large number of patients and are frequently undertaken without first informing the medical provider. Unfortunately, considerable controversy exists regarding use of dietary supplements in subjects with diabetes because efficacy data for many of the supplements consists of only uncontrolled studies and anecdotal reports. As such, there is a paucity of data in humans in regard to the effect of most commercially available supplements to improve metabolic abnormalities.

One supplement that has attracted considerable clinical interest is chromium (Cr). However, routine use of Cr in subjects with diabetes is not currently recommended. In part, the controversy surrounding Cr supplementation stems from the lack of definitive randomized trials, the lack of "gold standard" techniques to assess glucose metabolism in the studies reported, the use of differing doses and formulation , and the study of heterogeneous study populations (4). As such, conflicting data has been reported that has contributed greatly to the confusion among healthcare providers concerning Cr supplementation. In order to provide a comprehensive clinical evaluation of Cr, we conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in subjects with Type 2 diabetes, and over a 10 month period of observation, used established techniques to assess changes in insulin sensitivity, body composition and glycemic control.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 1998-08
• Primary Completion: 2003-01
• Study Completion: 2003-04
• Study First Submitted: 2006-01-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-01-26
• Study First Posted: 2006-01-30
• Status Verified: 2016-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-04-07
• Last Update Posted: 2016-04-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

Type 2 diabetes on diet therapy or low dose oral agent -

Exclusion Criteria

Significant cardiovascular, hepatic or renal disease

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Insulin Senstivity, glycated hemoglobin

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
weight, body composition

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Vermont; 🇺🇸 Burlington, Vermont, United States