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Query: UMLS:C0011849 (diabetes)
 277,896 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The first rodent longevity study with the insulin-sensitizing nutrient chromium picolinate has reported a dramatic increase in both median and maximal lifespan. Although the observed moderate reductions in serum glucose imply a decreased rate of tissue glycation reactions, it is unlikely that this alone can account for the substantial impact on lifespan; an effect on central neurohormonal regulation can reasonably be suspected. Recent studies highlight the physiological role of insulin as a modulator of brain function. I postulate that aging is associated with a reduction of effective insulin activity in the brain, and this contributes to age-related alterations of hypothalamic functions that result in an 'older' neurohormonal milieu; consistent with this possibility, diabetes leads to changes of hypothalamic regulation analogous to those seen in normal aging. Conversely, promoting brain insulin activity with chromium picolinate may help to maintain the hypothalamus in a more functionally youthful state; increased hypothalamic catecholamine activity, sensitization of insulin-responsive central mechanisms regulating appetite and thermogenesis, and perhaps trophic effects on brain neurons may play a role in this regard. Since both the pineal gland and thymus are dependent on insulin activity, chromium may aid their function as well. Thus, the longevity effect of chromium picolinate may depend primarily on delay or reversal of various age-related changes in the body's hormonal and neural milieu. A more general strategy of hypothalamic 'rejuvenation' is proposed for extending healthful lifespan.
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PMID:Longevity effect of chromium picolinate--'rejuvenation' of hypothalamic function? 783 11

Pathophysiological implications of gender may be important in a number of disease states. We therefore decided to study the influence of gender on glycation in mice. Plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were determined by ion exchange (HbA1c) and/or affinity chromatography (GHb) in C57BL/6 ob/ob mice during the onset and subsequent decline of hyperglycemia. In preweanling ob/ob mice, glucose and glycated hemoglobin concentrations were equal to those of lean sex-matched controls. Shortly after weaning, plasma glucose in ob/ob mice increased to reach a maximum between 2 and 3 months of age, then declined over the next several weeks to levels within the range of lean mice. HbA1c values were closely associated with the glycemic changes. Male mice of both phenotypes consistently had higher values of glycated hemoglobin at a given glucose value than did females. Disappearance rates of chromium-labeled erythrocytes were slightly higher in lean female mice than in other subgroups but after correcting for phenotype/sex differences in blood volume, no phenotype or gender differences in RBC lifespan were observed. We conclude that there are gender differences in glycation of hemoglobin in mice and that factors other than RBC turnover are associated with the gender effects in both obese and lean mice.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract
PMID:Sex differences in glycated hemoglobin in diabetic and non-diabetic C57BL/6 mice. 826 24

Mexican Americans appear to have a strong genetic predisposition to insulin resistance, android obesity, and type II diabetes, apparently as a function of Native American genetic heritage. Theoretical considerations suggest that insulin resistance may be a primary factor that plays a causative role in the induction of both obesity and diabetes. Measures which promote optimal insulin sensitivity--chromium picolinate, brewer's yeast, soluble fiber supplements, metformin, very-low-fat diet, exercise training--may have value for preventing, treating, or retarding the onset of obesity and diabetes, and merit clinical evaluation in this regard. Correction of insulin resistance may also lessen cardiovascular risk, in part by reducing LDL cholesterol and improving risk factors associated with Syndrome X. These comments are likely to be valid for other Native American groups at high risk for diabetes.
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PMID:Insulin resistance in Mexican Americans--a precursor to obesity and diabetes? 828 93

The insulin-sensitizing drug phenformin, in addition to its clinical utility in type II diabetes, has been reported to lower blood lipids, reduce body fat, enhance cellular immunity, and--in rodents--to increase mean lifespan and retard the development of growth of cancer. Initial studies with the insulin-sensitizing nutrient chromium picolinate indicate that it aids glucose tolerance in type II diabetes, lowers elevated LDL cholesterol, reduces body fat while increasing lean mass, and--in rats--increases median lifespan. These effects are thus analogous to those reported for phenformin; chromium picolinate should be tested to determine whether it likewise has a favorable impact on cellular immunity and cancer risk. The ability of both phenformin and chromium picolinate to increase lifespan suggests that age-related insulin resistance may play a profound role in the aging process. It may not be coincidental that caloric restriction--the best documented technique for increasing lifespan--markedly increases insulin sensitivity. Safe, appropriate measures for promoting lifelong insulin sensitivity include a low-fat diet, exercise training, and supplemental chromium picolinate.
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PMID:Homologous physiological effects of phenformin and chromium picolinate. 828 94

Signs and symptoms of Cr deficiency in the general population appear widespread due not only to suboptimal intake of dietary Cr but also the elevated consumption of simple sugars that increase Cr losses. A large percentage of the subjects with marginally impaired glucose tolerance or elevated circulating insulin respond to supplemental Cr. The mechanism of action of Cr in the potentiation of insulin activity as well as the exact structure of biologically active chromium is unclear but significant progress is being made. In summary, recent advances in chromium nutrition research strengthen the association of insufficient dietary chromium and risk factors maturity-onset diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and further document the role of chromium in the maintenance of optimal health.
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PMID:Recent advances in the clinical and biochemical effects of chromium deficiency. 845 28

Trivalent chromium is an essential trace element for normal carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Because of this biological activity, chromium supplementation has been studied as a potential therapy of insulin resistant states and dyslipidemias, and has been promoted as a health aid to the general population. To determine if there is a risk of subclinical chromium deficiency in young, otherwise healthy adults, we evaluated the effect of chromium supplementation, versus placebo, on insulin levels and serum lipids in a double-blind, randomized trial in 26 young adults (mean age 36 years). Fasting levels of glucose, immunoreactive insulin (IRI), and lipids (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides) were measured before and after 90 days of daily supplementation with a chromium (III)-nicotinate preparation, containing 220 micrograms elemental chromium, or placebo. There were no statistically significant differences in the percentage change of fasting glucose, IRI or lipids between the chromium (n = 15) and placebo (n = 11) groups after 90 days of supplementation. However, those individuals within the chromium group with initial fasting IRI levels greater than 35 pmol/l had a significant decrease in IRI level after supplementation (P < 0.03) despite no significant changes in serum lipids. These subjects may benefit from chromium supplementation by improving insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular risk over time.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1995 Jun
PMID:Effects of chromium supplementation on fasting insulin levels and lipid parameters in healthy, non-obese young subjects. 852 96

Activation of osteoclasts by parathyroid hormone (PTH) is mediated by PTH stimulation of osteoblasts, and is dependent on a PTH-induced rise in protein kinase C activity. Physiological levels of insulin reduce the ability of PTH to activate protein kinase C in osteoblasts, suggesting that insulin may be a physiological antagonist of bone resorption. In addition, insulin is known to promote collagen production by osteoblasts. These findings imply that efficient insulin activity may exert an anabolic effect on bone, and rationalize the many clinical studies demonstrating reduced bone density in Type I diabetes. Recently, the insulin-sensitizing nutrient chromium picolinate has been found to reduce urinary excretion of hydroxyproline and calcium in postmenopausal women, presumably indicative of a reduced rate of bone resorption. This nutrient also raised serum levels of dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, which may play a physiological role in the preservation of postmenopausal bone density. The impact of chromium picolinate (alone or in conjunction with calcium and other micronutrients) on bone metabolism and bone density, merits further evaluation in controlled studies.
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PMID:Anabolic effects of insulin on bone suggest a role for chromium picolinate in preservation of bone density. 856 46

Zinc and chromium have been well known to be important trace elements in diabetes as a cofactor for insulin, although their real mechanisms in carbohydrate metabolism are not clear. Especially, chromium is considered essential for maintenance of normal glucose tolerance, and a chromium complex occurring in brewer's yeast, termed glucose tolerance factor (GTF), was found to be of outstanding activity. Recently, some essential trace elements such as vanadium and selenium were observed to have several physiological insulin-like effects by a post-insulin receptor kinase mechanism. It is very likely that chromium, manganese, vanadium, and selenium have a favorable effect on carbohydrate metabolism.
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PMID:[Role of essential trace elements in the disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism]. 858 10

Chromium picolinate has been implicated as a lipid and carbohydrate reducing agent, and therefore it may be a valuable adjunct to the treatment and prevention of diabetes and heart disease. This compound is inexpensive and apparently nontoxic. In this work, we have determined the influence of its administration (100, 200, 500 micrograms Cr/ml, for 7 and 21 days) on hepatic content of Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe of male Wistar rats. The results show a variation of the levels of these elements after the administration of chromium picolinate, although the differences are only significantly (p < 0.01) in the case of Mn. This influence is dose-dependent, occurring a decrease of 72% in the group treated with 500 micrograms/ml (Pic-500) respect to the content of control group.
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PMID:[The effect of chromium picolinate on the liver levels of trace elements]. 859 24

Chromium holds a frequent and important place in toxicological literature. The large number of more or less important toxicological facts (e.g. allergic dermatoses, ulcer, perforations of the nasal septum, bronchitis, cancerogenity etc.) are the reason why chromium is conceived rather as a toxic element. On the other hand in the non-toxicological literature favourable actions of chromium are described (its relationship to carbohydrate utilization, the glucose tolerance factor, diabetes etc.) which may induce us to consider chromium an essential element. Is chromium toxic or essential? It is both. The concept of essential or toxic cannot be conceived statically, these terms are relative and depend on a number of other facts and data (dose, time, chemical form, individuality of the organism, interaction with other substances in the environment etc). This relative view has a more general validity not only for chromium but for trace elements in general and it is very important in particular with regard to prevention of health damage caused by deficiency or excess of a substance.
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PMID:[Is chromium an essential or a toxic element?]. 868 56


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