The available evidence suggests favourable effects of chromium supplementation  on glycaemic control in patients with diabetes
INTRODUCTION Chromium is an essential trace mineral for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism , which is currently prescribed to control diabetes mellitus .
Results of previous systematic review s and meta-analyses of chromium supplementation and metabolic profiles in diabetes have been inconsistent .
AIM The objective of this meta- analysis was to assess the effects on metabolic profiles and safety of chromium supplementation in type 2 diabetes mellitus and cholesterol .
The effect of chromium picolinate and biotin supplementation on glycemic control in poorly controlled patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized trial.
BACKGROUND Pre clinical studies have shown that the combination of chromium picolinate and biotin significantly enhances glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells and enhances glucose disposal . The present pilot study was conducted to determine if supplementation with chromium picolinate and biotin can improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with suboptimal glycemic control despite use of oral antihyperglycemic agents . METHODS Forty-three subjects with impaired glycemic control ( 2-h glucose > 200 mg/dL ; glycated hemoglobin > or=7 % ) , despite treatments with oral antihyperglycemic agents  , were r and omized to receive 600 microg of chromium as chromium picolinate and biotin ( 2 mg/day ) ( Diachrome ( , Nutrition 21 , Inc. , Purchase , NY ) in addition to their pre study oral antihyperglycemic agent therapy . Measurements of glycemic control and blood lipids were taken at baseline and after 4 weeks . RESULTS After 4 weeks , there was a significantly greater reduction in the total area under the curve for glucose during the 2-h oral glucose tolerance test for the treatment group ( mean change -9.7 % ) compared with the placebo group ( mean change + 5.1 % , P < 0.03 ) . Significantly greater reductions were also seen in fructosamine ( P < 0.03 ) , triglycerides ( P < 0.02 ) , and triglycerides/ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio ( P < 0.05 ) in the treatment group . No significant adverse events were attributed to chromium picolinate and biotin supplementation . CONCLUSIONS This pilot study demonstrates that supplementation with a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin in poorly controlled patients with diabetes receiving antidiabetic therapy improved glucose management and several lipid measurements .  Chromium picolinate/ biotin supplementation may represent an effective adjunctive nutritional therapy to people with poorly controlled diabetes with the potential for improving lipid metabolism
The available evidence suggests favourable effects of chromium supplementation  on glycaemic control in patients with diabetes
INTRODUCTION Chromium is an essential trace mineral for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism , which is currently prescribed to control diabetes mellitus .
Results of previous systematic review s and meta-analyses of chromium supplementation and metabolic profiles in diabetes have been inconsistent .
AIM The objective of this meta- analysis was to assess the effects on metabolic profiles and safety of chromium supplementation in type 2 diabetes mellitus and cholesterol .