The American Diabetes Association defines insulin resistance as your body's inability to utilize insulin. Hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol may be linked to insulin resistance. A study in the "Journal of Clinical Investigation" adds atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovarian disease to this list. It poses the question: which comes first, the obesity, or the insulin resistance? In the interim, chromium picolinate may be helpful in dealing with insulin resistance.
Chromium Picolinate
The human body carries low amounts of chromium. Among those who may be deficient in chromium are the elderly, athletes, pregnant women and those who consume high amounts of sugar in their food. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes there are several forms of chromium, chromium picolinate being one of them. The main function of chromium picolinate is to regulate insulin, thus controlling metabolism. Chromium picolinate may be helpful with insulin resistance and may play a part in helping you control your weight.
Decrease in Blood Glucose
Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics claims that chromium picolinate is proven to be effective as a nutritional supplement that increases the functioning capabilities of insulin. It states that adding chromium picolinate to your diet may assist with insulin resistance by allowing the effective interaction between cells and insulin to utilize blood glucose for energy. This has the effect of also decreasing the health risks associated with high blood sugar levels.
Insulin Levels
The daily use of chromium picolinate shows a positive effect in decreasing the effect of insulin resistance, notes Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics. It states it is beneficial in assisting with the optimal performance of insulin. A precursor to Type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. It is uncertain as to whether obesity causes insulin resistance, or insulin resistance causes obesity. Both are linked to Type 2 diabetes which accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all cases of diabetes.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Common Terms: F-K
- "Journal of Clinical Investigation"; Obesity and insulin resistance; Barbara B. Kahn, Jeffrey S. Flier; Aug.2000
- Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics: Clinical Studies on Chromium Picolinate Supplementation in Diabetes Mellitus---A Review; C. Leigh Broadhurst, Ph.D., et al.,; Nov. 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Chromium
