Nutraceuticals and nootropics for anti-aging

Chromium picolinate enhances insulin action — yet again.

A recent small clinical trial of chromium picolinate as an enhancer of insulin action has once again confirmed that this supplement has significant benefits in treating diabetic disorders. This particular study focused on women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome — a disease that tends to cause insulin resistance (an interference with the action of insulin in the body), and often results in type 2 diabetes.

Link to a news article about the recent clinical trial:

New NIH-Funded Pilot Study

Link to information about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome:

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

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The idea that chromium picolinate can improve insulin action is not new — the concept was studied in 1992 in rats and in the late 1990s in humans with type 2 diabetes.

Link to a report about chromium picolinate for treating type 2 diabetes:

Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

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During the late 1990s a controversy arose over the safety of chromium picolinate. Several studies were published showing that fruit flies and tissue-cultured hamster cells treated with very high doses of chromium picolinate showed evidence of chromosome damage. The damage was attributed to an increase in intracellular free-radical production. Other studies, however, looked for deleterious effects on animals given chromium picolinate in their diet, and found no toxicity. It is still not clear what relevance the fruit fly and tissue culture studies actually have, but it seems reasonable to suppose that an anti-oxidant regimen could counteract such free-radical increases, if they in fact exist in vivo.

Links to two reports on opposite sides of the chromium picolinate controversy:

Nutritional supplement chromium picolinate causes sterility and lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster.

Lack of toxicity of chromium chloride and chromium picolinate in rats.