Lee Swanson Research Update

Chromium Ingredient May Benefit Diabetics

June 2008

Supplements of niacin-bound chromium (III) may reduce inflammation in diabetics and benefit heart health, a new study with rats suggests.

The benefits were greater than those observed with the more established chromium picolinate, according to results presented at the American Diabetes Association's 86th Annual Scientific Session. "This suggests that [niacin-bound chromium] is the more effective form of [chromium (III) ion] in preventing vascular inflammation in diabetic rats, and thereby, can potentially reduce risk of CVD (cardiovascular disease) in diabetes," wrote the researchers in their conference abstract.

The new study, funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), used obese rats that were genetically modified to become diabetic by 10 to 12 weeks of age. The animals were divided into three groups and fed the same diet. One group acted as the control, while the other two were supplemented niacin-bound chromium (Cr-N) or chromium picolinate (Cr-P) for eight weeks. Both chromium doses provided 400 mcg of chromium per kg of body weight.

The cardiovascular health of the animals was assessed by measuring levels of certain compounds in the blood, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Attendees at the scientific sessions were told that animals receiving the Cr-N supplement (ChromeMate®) had lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels than the Cr-P group, which were both significantly lower than the control group.

Moreover, TNF-alpha and MCP-1 levels were lower in the Cr-N group than in the controls, but not in the Cr-P group.

American Diabetes Association’s 68th Annual Scientific Sessions Abstract 1690-P

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