High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessel function and decrease blood flow to your organs. This can increase your risk for diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease and blindness. Evidence indicates that both chromium and cinnamon are effective for reducing blood sugar, or blood glucose, especially if you are diabetic.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a rich source of antioxidants that may improve blood glucose control. Researchers at Universite Joseph Fourier assigned overweight and obese subjects with impaired fasting glucose 250 mg of cinnamon extract or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, which was reported in the February 2009 issue of the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition," researchers discovered that those in the cinnamon extract group lowered their glucose levels compared with those in the placebo group.
Cinnamon and Type 2 Diabetes
Another study published in the December 2003 issue of "Diabetes Care" reported similar findings. Scientists at NWFP Agricultural University in Pakistan found that type 2 diabetics consuming 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon daily for 40 days experienced reductions in blood sugar levels compared with those in the placebo group.
Chromium Picolinate
Chromium is a trace mineral that plays a significant role in insulin function. Scientists at Nutrition 21 reviewed the scientific literature regarding the effects of chromium picolinate, a form of chromium, on diabetes. They concluded that chromium picolinate is superior to a placebo for reducing blood glucose levels in diabetics, according to research reported in the November 2006 issue of "Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics."
Chromium
Researchers at Tel-Aviv University in Israel studied the impact of chromium supplementation on glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients. Participants were assigned to a diet with or without 200 mcg of chromium twice daily for three weeks. At the end of the study, which was published in the May 2004 issue of the "International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research," scientists discovered that those in the chromium group experienced decreases in blood glucose levels compared with those without the supplement.
References
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; Antioxidant Effects of a Cinnamon Extract in People with Impaired Fasting Glucose That Are Overweight or Obese; A.M. Roussel et al.; February 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People with Type 2 Diabetes; A. Khan et al.; December 2003
- "Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics"; Clinical Studies on Chromium Picolinate Supplementation in Diabetes Mellitus---A Review; C.Leigh Broadhurst and Philip Domenico; November 2006
- "International Jounal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research"; Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Blood Glucose and Lipid Levels in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Elderly Patients; H. Rabinovitz, et al.; May 2004
