Chromium supplementation in impaired glucose tolerance of elderly: effects on blood glucose, plasma insulin, C-peptide and lipid levels

• Published in: British journal of nutrition Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 209 - 216
• Main Authors: Uusitupa, Matti I. J., Mykkänen, Leena, Siitonen, Onni, Laakso, Markku, Sarlund, Helena, Kolehmainen, Päivi, Räsänen, Tiina, Kumpulainen, Jorma, Pyörälä, Kalevi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.1992
• Subjects: Aged; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; C-peptide; C-Peptide - blood; Chromium; Chromium - administration & dosage; Chromium - therapeutic use; Chromium and Carbohydrate Metabolism; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Double-Blind Method; Female; Glucose Tolerance Test; Humans; Impaired glucose tolerance; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Lipids - blood; Male; Serum peptide; Weight Loss - physiology; Chromium; Impaired glucose tolerance; Insulin; C-peptide; Serum peptide
• ISSN: 0007-1145; 1475-2662
• DOI: 10.1079/BJN19920078

Altogether twenty-six elderly subjects (aged 65–74 years) with persistent impaired glucose tolerance (World Health Organization (1985) criteria) identified in a population-based study, were randomly treated either with chromium-rich yeast (160 μg Cr/d) or with placebo for 6 months. The 24 h urinary Cr increased from 0.13 (se 0.03) to 0.40 (se 0.06) μg/d in the Cr group (n 13) but no change was found in the placebo group (n 11) (0.13 (se 0.02) v. 0.11 (se 0.02) μg/d). No significant change was observed in the oral glucose tolerance test (glucose dose 75 g; 0, 1 and 2 h blood glucose respectively): 5.3 (se 0.1), 9.3 (se 0.3), 8.2 (se 0.3) mmol/l v. 5.0 (se 0.1), 8.5 (se 0.4), 7.3 (se 0.5) mmol/l in the Cr group; 4.9 (se 0.2), 9.2 (se 0.6), 8.1 (se 0.3) mmol/l v. 4.8 (se 0.2), 8.5 (se 0.5), 7.0 (se 0.6) mmol/l in the placebo group (baseline v. 6 months). Glycosylated haemoglobin, plasma insulin, C-peptide and apolipoprotein Al and B levels remained unchanged, and no improvement was seen in serum total cholesterol (6.2 (se 0.3) v. 6.4 (se 0.3) mmol/l for the Cr group, 6.2 (se 0.4) v. 6.5 (se 0.3) mmol/l for the placebo group), high-density-lipoprotein-cholesterol (1.1 (se 0.1) v. 1.2 (se 0.1) mmol/l for the Cr group, 1.0 (se 0.1) v. 1.1 (se 0.1) mmol/l for the placebo group) or triacylglycerols (2.5 (se 0.4) v. 2.0 (se 0.4) mmol/l for the Cr group, 2.4 (se 0.2) v. 2.5 (se 0.2) mmol/l for the placebo group). The present results indicate that Cr supplementation does not improve glucose tolerance or serum lipid levels in elderly subjects with stable impaired glucose tolerance.