Chromium

 

Chromium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in efficient insulin functioning and acticity. It acts as a co-factors for insulin activity and thus promoting insulin activity which helps the body to regulate blood sugar levels. (Insulin is a hormone produced by the pacnreasa, and your body is using it to change sugar, starches, and other food into the energy you need for daily activities.)

In one well-designed study, people with type 2 diabetes who took chromium picolinate had better glucose value (measured though a test aclled HbA1c which is a test giving the average of glucose control in the past 3 months) than those who took placebo. The group taking chromium also had better morning (fasting) blood glucose levels, a measure of short-term control of blood sugar levels.

Another study looking at the combination of chromium and biotin, showed that people taking chromium and biotin had better fasting glucose levels as well as HbA1c values compared to the people that took the placebo.

A further study (1) examined the effect of chromium in pregnant women with diabetes (called gestational diabetes) and results indicated that use of chromium improved their blood sugar control.

 

References

(1) Chromium supplementation for women with gestational diabetes mellitus, Volume12, Issue2  Special Issue:International Symposium on the Health Effects of Dietary Chromium  1999  Pages 91-97