Do Chromium Supplements Help Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetics?
Collaborative work between IFR, the Bertram Diabetes Research Unit at the West Norwich Hospital, and the Central Science Laboratory in York has investigated this question. Researchers found that supplements of chromium rich yeast had no effect in patients whose diet was not deficient in chromium. Chromium is essential for the control of insulin action, and it has been suggested that marginal chromium deficiency may be a factor in maturity onset (type 2, non-insulin dependent) diabetes. A biologically active form of chromium, known as glucose tolerance factor, is thought to be present in yeast, and may affect glucose and insulin metabolism. This study investigated whether moderate supplementation with chromium rich yeast improved patients’ control of their blood sugar levels. Adults with type 2 diabetes, but otherwise in good health, took capsules containing chromium rich yeast (110m g chromium per day) for 8 weeks. Volunteers underwent a glucose tolerance test at the start and finish o