Promising Nutritional Therapy for 2 Million American Women Presented at American Society for Reproductive Medicine Conference (ASRM)
San Antonio, TX, October 15, 2003 (Nutrition 21, Inc., Nasdaq: NXXI) -- Results of a new pilot study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed that daily supplementation with 1,000 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate significantly enhanced insulin sensitivity. These initial results offer a potential new nutritional therapy for approximately 2 million American women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a little-understood hormonal condition that is a leading cause of infertility, and is associated with insulin resistance, gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The study was presented at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Conference (ASRM) in San Antonio, Texas and appears in a supplement to Fertility and Sterility, September 2003.
In an effort to build on limited PCOS treatment options, researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY), Stony Brook, analyzed the effects of nutritional supplementation with chromium in the form of Chromax„¥ chromium picolinate on six women with PCOS. Results showed that glucose disposal rate (insulin sensitivity) was significantly increased by an average of 35% after two months of treatment, and baseline insulin levels decreased by 22%.
¡§Chromium picolinate, which has positive effects on insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, looks like it has great potential as a safe, effective long-term therapy to fill a void in treating PCOS,¡¨ said Michael L. Lydic, MD, assistant professor at SUNY Reproductive Endocrinology Division, who led the study. ¡§If larger, controlled trials confirm chromium picolinate¡¦s efficacy, PCOS patients could potentially take the supplement every day to decrease their risk of diabetes and possibly improve other physical and symptomatic effects of PCOS. It also has potential to be used in combination with prescription insulin-sensitizing drugs.¡¨
Today there is no FDA-approved drug specifically to treat PCOS. Some doctors prescribe insulin-sensitizing agents, such as metformin. However, many women experience unwanted side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite, making ongoing treatment for insulin resistance prohibitive. Dr. Lydic added, ¡§Our goal is to explore potential long-term therapies to bring insulin resistance under control and decrease risk of diabetes. Ideally, we hope to compare chromium picolinate with metformin in a clinical setting.¡¨
"An emerging body of research continues to confirm the findings that chromium insufficiency is an important nutritional factor in insulin resistance which is strongly associated with the type 2 diabetes epidemic,¡¨ said Gail Montgomery, President and CEO. ¡§It is rewarding to see that Chromax supplementation shows promise as an affordable, convenient therapeutic option for women suffering from PCOS.¡¨
Clinical Design
The study was a non-randomized, prospective study, which included six women of reproductive age (18 ¡V42 years old) with PCOS and signs of insulin resistance. Hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp tests, the most accurate measure of insulin sensitivity, were used on all subjects.
Researchers measured hormonal, physical and symptomatic effects of improved insulin function. They reported that one subject without menstrual cycles, who had the largest change in glucose disposal rate, had a spontaneous menstrual period after 2 months. No adverse side effects were reported among the study participants.
The study was funded by NIH grant No. M01RR10710, and product was supplied by Nutrition 21, Inc.
About Chromium
Chromium is an essential mineral that is needed for insulin activity in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. Numerous clinical trials have shown that chromium as chromium picolinate reduces insulin resistance, improves blood sugar control and may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
About Nutrition 21
Nutrition 21 is an industry leader in using pharmaceutical quality research to substantiate the health benefits of nutritional supplements. It holds 24 patents for chromium compounds and their uses, and 11 other nutrition patents. The Company¡¦s proprietary technologies focus on chromium picolinate and its relationship to insulin resistance, a condition implicated in type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression. Nutrition 21 markets Chromax„¥ chromium picolinate, the leading chromium ingredient used in supplements. The Company is developing its first branded product, Diachrome„§, for people with type 2 diabetes intended to be marketed through healthcare channels. More information is available at www.nutrition21.com,www.chromax.com,www.diachrome.com.
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
Hey that's great news!! And it's not surprising...chromium is indeed very effective for insulin resistance. I'm a little surprised that they didn't test chromium polynicotinate which is a newer form of chromium said to be even more effective than chromium picolinate and also safer.
Also, chromium is not the only effective supplement for insulin resistance and pcos...two other supplements should also be closely investigated which are R+Alpha Lipoic Acid and GLA ( gamma linolenic acid). R+ALA alone showed in several studies a glucose disposal rate of up to 60% which is twice as much as chromium. Combined with 250 mg of GLA per 33 pounds, then the glucose disposal rate is much higher.
So chromium, R+ALA and GLA would be the perfect trio to combat insulin resistance.
Dr. Michael Lydic is my RE at SUNY Stony Brook Hospital.
He is a highly intelligent individual... and wonderful dr... For those ladies in NY who are searching for someone... don't hesitate to seek him out....
This is good news, but...... what if you have been told that your insulin levels are fine and you may even have mild hypoglycemia? Is it still going to help?
Good question, KC. There have been studies showing that Metformin helps non-insulin resistant women with PCOS (normalizes other hormones), so a similiar study with chromium picolinate would be helpful for sure. Wish I knew.
Linda
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
is GLA part of the omega group (i think 3 right?) that can increase levels of estrogen in the body? i was taking borage oil many months ago and noticed that i was getting crankier while taking it so i stopped. i didn't notice that w/flax or black currant, but i did with borage.
i agree with the benefits of R + ALA ....taking one before every meal can help keep your blood sugar from rising...if you are hypoglycemic like myself you may find that you don't feel any better after eating since it promotes low b/s rather than stable b/s....taking it in combination with chromium will help that greatly
__________________ Mariam - 26
DH - 29
married 6/03
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GLA is not part of the omega 3 family it's part of the omega 6 family. Most omega 6 fatty acids we eat too much of, but GLA is an exception. It's a good omega 6 fatty acid that is very hard to get in the diet even if you eat a really healthy diet. Ideally, you should get omega 3's and GLA in your diet for optimal health and hormonal balance. You can get GLA in borage oil, black currant seed oil and evening primrose oil. There are some people that say that evening primrose oil promotes estrogen while others say that it doesn't...borage oil contains the highest amount of GLA per capsule but you have to make sure it the company uses only borage seed oil and not borage leaf because the leaves contain toxins. I'm surprised you didn't tolerate borage oil well but then again, everyone reacts differently. If you want to be on the safe side, use black currant seed oil which is not known to promote estrogen. Ideally, for insulin resistance treatment, you would take 100 mg of R+Alpha Lipoic Acid per 30 grams of carbs with 240 mg of GLA per 33 pounds of body weight. The R+ALA helps shuttle carbs into your muscle cells instead of your fat cells so that your insulin remains stable...GLA works on the brown adipose tissue/fat and also on insulin combined with R+ALA. So this allows you to eat more carbs than your normally would...but if you take too much R+ALA or too much chromium, then you might get low blood sugar so you'll want to adjust the dosage.
You can take chromium with Glucophage. If you are diabetic, however, you need to consult your doc first.
The usual recommended dosage is 200 mg a day, but I have read it is safe to take up to 1000 mg. GTF chromium is now the preferred choice over picolinate, because the latter has been shown to cause gene mutations in lab rats (or something like that). Many people have safely taken picolinate, however.
Linda
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
hi
my doc's going to put me on chromium picolinate next week along with metformin.....
now i've read in the internet articles that picolinate causes genetic mutations in rats...and so the gtf is preferred.....should I talk to my doc about it and ask her to put me on gtf version....am TTC and am scared that if i fall pregnant nothing bad should happen to the fetus because of this.....
need some advice!
__________________ 31 Years, 5'2", haven't measured my weight for long
Target weight 110lbs/50kgs
Married since Jan 2000 to the love of my life!!
Have a beautiful baby girl!!
** Hoping and Loving and Praying and Working Silently**
I don't think your doc would be opposed to the GTF form; it is an over the counter supplement, anyway, and you don't need a prescription for it so you can take whichever form you want. The dosage would be the same for either. With the research available so far, I think the GTF form would be best especially if you were TTC.
Linda
__________________ dx pcos 1984, type II diabetes 2001, also hypertension
Met 2000mg since 2001, started Glucophage XR 4/22/04, then switched to Met ER 6/04; also: multi, Vit. C, Vit. E, B12/folic acid combo, fish oil & borage oil combo, garlic capsules, cinnamon, Vitex, calcium with magnesium/zinc, biotin, CoQ10, selenium,iron
Other meds: Verapamil and Altace(for blood pressure)
Started laser hair removal 7/29/03, completed 3/04 (it works!)
UAE for fibroid 3/24/03 and 3/16/04
Chromium Picolinate and PCOS-new study! 
