Follow-up survey of people in China with type 2 diabetes mellitus consuming supplemental chromium

In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 180 people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, supplemental chromium (Cr) was shown to improve fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and cholesterol. In a follow-up survey, the fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, and diabetic symptoms of 833 people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were monitored for up to 10 months following Cr supplementation (500 mu g/d Cr as chromium picolinate). All subjects were on hypoglycemic medication and/or insulin. Fasting and postprandial glucose improved in >90% of the subjects, and similar improvements occurred after 1-10 months. Mean fasting glucose values before consuming additional Cr were 10.0 +/- 0.14 mmol/L (mean +/- SEM); they decreased to 8.0 +/- 0.15 after 1 month and remained significantly lower during the ensuing 9 months. Values for postprandial glucose decreased from 12.0 +/- 0.21 to 9.9 +/- 0.40 mmol/L in 1 month and also remained significantly lower in the following 9 months. Symptoms of diabetes including fatigue decreased from 443 people who reported feeling fatigued before Cr to 52 people after supplementation. Subjects reporting symptoms of thirst decreased from 334 to 47; frequency of urination episodes dropped from 322 to 40 people after Cr supplementation for 1 month or longer. Similar effects were observed in women and men. There were no confirmed negative side effects of supplemental Cr. These data confirm the safety and beneficial effects of supplemental Cr and demonstrate that beneficial effects of supplemental Cr observed in a few months an also present after 10 months. J. Trace Elem. Exp. Med. 12:55-60, 1999. Published 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.dagger