Effect of chromium nicotinate supplementation on serum chromium level in type-2 diabetic outpatients at taksin hospital, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
Abstract:
Chromium is an essential trace element that potentiates insulin action. Sixty healthy subjects and 57 diabetic outpatients at Taksin Hospital, Bangkok Metropolitan were examined for serum chromium using graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The diabetic patients were categorized into 2 groups namely, a controlled group (placebo) and studied group (consumed chromium nicotinate 400 mug/day from week 4th to 12th). Blood sample was collected 4 times ; at the beginning, after 4 weeks, after 8 weeks and after 12 weeks from the beginning. Median of serum chromium level in diabetic patients (0.20 mug/L) was significantly lower than that of healthy subjects (0.46 mug/L). Median of serum chromium levels at the beginning, week 4th , weeks 8th and week 12th of the controlled group were 0.20, 0.20, 0.59 and 0.50 mug/L, respectively and the studied group were 0.25, 0.28, 0.75 and 0.33 mug/L, respectively. After supplementation chromium nicotinate 400 mug/d for 4 weeks, the serum chromium level of studied group was significantly higher than those of the controlled group (P<0.05) and of the studied group at the beginning (P<0.05).