Chromium and Insulin Resistance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Chromium and Insulin Resistance

Conditions
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Insulin Resistance

Intervention / Treatment
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* Dietary Supplement: Chromium
* Dietary Supplement: placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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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.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: 1<br>Chromium picolinate | Dietary Supplement: Chromium<br>* 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.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: 2<br>2 sugar pills taken twice daily | Dietary Supplement: Chromium<br>* 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.<br>Dietary Supplement: placebo<br>* 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.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| insulin resistance |  | 0 months and 4 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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diabetes, insulin resistance, chromium, healthy volunteers