Cinnamon might increase insulin sensitivity and improve glucose uptake into cells. If cinnamon does decrease fasting glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes, it likely does so by decreasing insulin resistance. The potential antidiabetic effects of cinnamon have been studied for more than 20 years. Q: How might cinnamon affect patients with type 2 diabetes?Ī: This is not yet known. It is not known whether these different preparations have different, if any, antidiabetic effects. Different preparations of cinnamon are available commercially, including water-soluble extract of cinnamon rather than the whole spice. 4 Although there are many species of Cinnamomum, the most commonly used species in studies has been Cinnamomum cassia. Q: What types of cinnamon supplements are available?Ī: Cinnamon is produced by drying of the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees. When the results of several studies are combined, there has been some suggestion that chromium may lower fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A 1c levels however, larger, better-quality studies are needed. Some studies show promise but have been small and poor in quality. 1,2 Studies of chromium supplementation in patients with type 2 diabetes have been performed for the past 40 years, and the results remain conflicting. Trials conducted in patients with prediabetes have not shown any benefit. Deficiency is rare, and the question is whether giving additional chromium to patients with sufficient chromium levels results in any improvement in insulin resistance and control of diabetes. Q: Does chromium supplementation make a difference?Ī: Chromium likely is needed to maintain normal carbohydrate metabolism. 1 It is proposed that chromium decreases insulin resistance, which is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, but the exact mechanism remains unknown. Q: How does chromium affect patients with type 2 diabetes?Ī: The relationship between chromium and diabetes was first noted in the 1950s when diabetes developed in chromium-deficient rats as a result of insulin resistance, which was reversed by chromium supplementation. Chromium picolinate is designed to be better absorbed than the others. 2 There are different forms available, including chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate, and chromium picolinate. 1 Severe chromium deficiency is rare, 1 but chromium has become a commonly sold supplement accounting for $85 million in sales in 2002. Chromium can be used in natural health products as a single ingredient or as a component of a multi-vitamin/mineral product.Q: What types of chromium supplements are available?Ī: Chromium is an essential trace element that is found in foods such as whole grain, broccoli, nuts, green beans, wine, and beer. The Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate of Health Canada recommends a maximum therapeutic dosage for elemental chromium of 500 µg per day for individuals over the age of 19 years. With regard to safety, few serious adverse effects have been associated with excess intake of chromium from food so the IOM was not able to establish a Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL). In pregnancy the AI is 29-30 µg/day and during lactation it is 44-45 µg/day. For women 51 y and older the AI drops to from 25 to 20 µg/day and for men 51 y and older it drops from 35 to 30 µg/day. As for other age and gender groups, AI levels for chromium are 0.2 µg/day for infants aged 0-6 mo, 5.5 µg/day for infants aged 7-12 mo, 11 µg/day for toddlers aged 1-3 y, 15 µg/day for children aged 4-8 y, 21 µg/day for girls and 25 µg/day for boys aged 9-13 y, 24 µg/day for girls and 35 µg/day for boys aged 14-18 y. The current recommendation by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is for an adequate intake (AI) of 35 µg per day for adult men (14-50 years) and 25 µg per day for adult women (14-50 years).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |