| Promising Natural Supplements for Type 2 Diabetes. |
Natural supplements are becoming more and more popular. As a result, more medical journals are beginning to publish serious, clinical studies on supplements. For example, evidence is currently mounting showing that 2 promising essential nutrients, chromium picolinate and biotin, may help control blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. Chromium is an essential trace mineral needed by the body for normal metabolism. The body can not make chromium, it must be obtained by the food we eat. Chromium is found in small amounts in foods such mushrooms, broccoli and organ meats. Chromium picolinate is ideal for supplementation because it is better absorbed than other forms of chromium. Biotin is also an essential nutrient. It is a B vitamin that is also needed by the body for metabolism. Food sources for biotin include soy, eggs, and whole grains. In Type 2 Diabetes, the body tissues become desensitized to the chemical insulin. Insulin is a chemical that is produced by the pancreas. It is needed by the tissues to use the blood sugar present in the blood stream after a meal. Since the body does not respond to insulin anymore, the tissues can not use the blood sugar. As a result, blood sugar starts to rise. High, prolonged levels of blood sugar are associated with organ damage. This may eventually lead to kidney, eye, and heart problems. High levels of blood 'Fat Rats' Until recently, the only real studies that had been done on supplementation with chromium picolinate and biotin were in obese, insulin-resistant rats. In one study, these rats were given chromium picolinate, biotin or a combination of both. This study found that although most doses of either chromium picolinate or biotin improved HDL and blood sugar use by the body, a combination of the 2 nutrients acted synergistically improving these end points more than either nutrient could alone1. Blood Sugar Control in Humans Three recent studies have shown that supplementation with a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin have beneficial effects on blood sugar control in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. In one study of 369 patients with Type 2 Diabetes, patients given a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin showed a significant improvement in HbA1c, versus patients taking a placebo ('sugar pill')2. HbA1c or 'Hemoglobin A1c' is a blood test used by doctors to tell how well blood sugar has been controlled over the last couple of months. For patients with Diabetes, a HgA1c of 7% or lower is the goal. Nearly twice as many patients in the Chromium picolinate/biotin group achieved a 1% or better decrease in their HgA1c than in the placebo group. In another study of 36 Type 2 Diabetic patients comparing a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin versus placebo, a significant decrease in two-hour post-meal blood sugar levels were obtained in the combination group, but not the placebo group3. This two-hour post meal blood sugar was measured by a 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test or 'OGTT'. OGTT is frequently used to measure how well blood sugar is controlled after meals. Finally, a study that looked at more than 100 patients who were taking part in an intervention program showed that patients who received a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin for 12 weeks showed significant improvements in fasting blood sugar and post-meal blood sugar4. Improved Lipid Levels in Humans In the study of 369 patients with Type 2 Diabetes mentioned above, patients taking a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin showed significantly reduced LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels versus placebo2. In another study of patients with Type 2 Diabetes, patients were placed on a combination of chromium picolinate and biotin for 30 days. During this time, significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL were observed in the nutrient combination group. Total cholesterol dropped significantly by 19.1 mg/dL and LDL dropped by 10.9 mg/dL, while those receiving placebo experienced increases in these numbers3,5. What Does It All Mean: There appears to be mounting evidence that the combination of chromium picolinate and biotin may help improve blood sugar control and lipid profiles in patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The results of these studies suggest that a single daily dose of 600mcg of chromium picolinate plus 2mg of biotin would be an appropriate dose of these nutrients. It should also be noted that in each of these studies, patients receiving chromium picolinate and biotin combination therapy continued to take their oral diabetes medication as prescribed by their doctor. This suggests that this type of nutrient combination therapy should be used as first line treatment in combination with diet and exercise, or later added as an addition to their already existing therapy. Further research with larger study groups are needed to confirm these findings. Also, little is known about the incidence of side effects with these supplements.
Author: Christi Larson, Pharm. D. Dr. Larson is a Clinical Infusion Pharmacist, author of Empowered Medicine; A Guide for Consumers and creator of www.empoweredmedicine.com. You can read more about her by visiting www.EmpoweredMedicine.com and clicking on the 'About Us' tab. EmpoweredMedicine.com is committed to providing evidence-based medical information.
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