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Chromium picolinate and biotin combination improves glucose metabolism in treated, uncontrolled overweight to obese patients with type 2 diabetes
Author(s) -
Albarracin Cesar A.,
Fuqua Burcham C.,
Evans Joseph L.,
Goldfine Ira D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.755
Subject(s) - placebo , medicine , tolerability , endocrinology , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , chromium , overweight , gastroenterology , adverse effect , chemistry , obesity , pathology , alternative medicine , organic chemistry
Background Chromium and biotin play essential roles in regulating carbohydrate metabolism. This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the combination of chromium picolinate and biotin on glycaemic control. Methods Four hundred and forty‐seven subjects with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes (HbA 1c ≥ 7.0%) were enrolled and received either chromium picolinate (600 µg Cr +3 ) with biotin (2 mg), or matching placebo, for 90 days in combination with stable oral anti‐diabetic agents (OADs). Major endpoints were reductions in HbA 1c , fasting glucose, and lipids. Safety and tolerability were assessed. Results Change in HbA 1c was significantly different between treatment groups ( p = 0.03). HbA 1c in the chromium picolinate/biotin group decreased 0.54%. The decrease in HbA 1c was most pronounced in chromium picolinate/biotin subjects whose baseline HbA 1c ≥ 10%, and highly significant when compared with placebo (−1.76% vs − 0.68%; p = 0.005). Fasting glucose levels were reduced in the entire chromium picolinate/biotin group versus placebo (−9.8 mg/dL vs 0.7 mg/dL; p = 0.02). Reductions in fasting glucose were also most marked in those subjects whose baseline HbA 1c ≥ 10.0%, and significant when compared to placebo (−35.8 mg/dL vs. 16.2 mg/dL; p = 0.01). Treatment was well tolerated with no adverse effects dissimilar from placebo. Conclusions These results suggest that the chromium picolinate/biotin combination, administered as an adjuvant to current prescription anti‐diabetic medication, can improve glycaemic control in overweight to obese individuals with type 2 diabetes; especially those patients with poor glycaemic control on oral therapy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.