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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203349
Title: Phenotype of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus may determine clinical response to chromium suppplementation.

Author
item WANG, ZHONG - PENNINGTON CENTER, LA
item QIN, JIANHUA - PENNINGTON CENTER, LA
item MARTIN, JULIE - UNIV.OF VERMONT, VT
item ZHANG, XIAN - PENNINGTON CENTER, LA
item SEREDA, OLGA - PENNINGTON CENTER, LA
item Anderson, Richard
item PINSONAT, PATRICIA - PENNINGTON CENTER, LA
item CEFALU, WILLIAM - PENNINGTON CENTER, LA

Submitted to: Metabolism
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2007
Publication Date: 10/10/2007
Citation: Wang, Z.Q., Qin, J., Martin, J., Zhang, X.H., Sereda, O., Anderson, R.A., Pinsonat, P., Cefalu, W.T. 2007. Phenotype of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus may determine clinical response to chromium suppplementation. Metabolism. 56:1652-5.

Interpretive Summary: The use of chromium containing dietary supplements is widespread among people with type 2 diabetes and glucose intolerance as a means of improving glucose metabolism, but there is currently no method to predict who will respond to chromium. Response to chromium varies depending upon the duration of the study and type and amount of chromium used but also unknown variables. In this study, the response to chromium was evaluated in 38 subjects following 500 micrograms of supplemental chromium as chromium picolinate two times per day for 6 months. The only variable that was found to be a predictor of response to chromium was the insulin sensitivity of the subjects. Subjects with the poorest response to insulin at the onset of the study showed the largest response to supplemental chromium. Other variables including, age, gender, race, weight, %body fat, glycated hemoglobin, glucose and insulin were not related to response to chromium. In addition to scientists and medical personnel, this study is of potential benefit to the millions of people worldwide who have glucose intolerance or diabetes.

Technical Abstract: The goal of this study was to assess which patient characteristics best determine response to supplemental chromium (Cr). We assessed response to Cr using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps before and after Cr supplementation in 38 subjects with Type 2 diabetes. The evaluations were double-blinded, randomized, and placebo-controlled. After initial evaluation, subjects were randomized to receive either two capsules containing 500 ug of Cr as Crpicolinate or two placebo capsules that were identical in physical characteristics daily for 6 months. All variables were repeated at the end of 6 months of evaluation. The only subject variable significantly associated with the clinical response to Cr was the baseline whole-body insulin-mediated glucose disposal or insulin sensitivity, as assessed with the hyperinsulinemic clamp. This parameter accounted for nearly 40% of the variance in the clinical response to Cr. Other variables, including age, gender, race, weight, %body fat, glycated hemoglobin, glucose, and insulin, were not independent predictors of response to chromium. In summary, this study demonstrates that insulin sensitivity can be used to predict response to supplemental chromium. ARS-533s are no longer required; however, manuscripts should be reviewed by technical editor.