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February 12, 2004
Clinical Trial of the Effects of Chromium Picolinate
on Diabetes & Heart Disease Risk Offered at PENN
Medicine
(Philadelphia, PA) – Approximately one-fifth of
the population of the United States – 47 million
Americans – suffer with metabolic syndrome (MetSyn);
a group of abnormalities characterized by abdominal
obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal blood
fat levels, and elevated blood pressure. MetSyn is considered
a pre-diabetic state and is thus heavily linked to an
increased risk of developing Type II Diabetes Mellitus
(T2DM) and/or cardiovascular disease. In an effort to
combat these alarming numbers, researchers at the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine are embarking
on a clinical trial to determine if a dietary supplement
– chromium picolinate – can improve glucose
and insulin levels and thus reduce insulin resistance,
an important factor in the development of T2DM.
The trial will investigate the ability of chromium picolinate
to increase the ability of the body’s cells to
absorb and use sugar from the blood, decrease blood
levels of circulating fat, and increase the amount of
HDL (good cholesterol) produced by the body. Researchers
will also seek evidence of the supplement’s antioxidant
and anti-inflammatory properties. “The results
from this clinical trial will provide solid data on
chromium picolinate’s potential to impact key
clinical factors in this high-risk, pre-diabetic population,”
states Philippe O. Szapary, MD, Assistant
Professor of Medicine and principal investigator of
the study. “Supplemental chromium may serve as
an attractive therapeutic option for patients diagnosed
with metabolic syndrome.”
While there are several forms of chromium available,
chromium picolinate has been selected for this study
because it is the most commonly used and chemically
stable form of the mineral.
The clinical trial will have a treatment period of 16
weeks and involves four office visits, as well as taking
two tablets daily. Four months after this clinical component
is concluded, a follow-up visit will take place to gather
final data.
Men and non-pregnant women, between the ages of 18 and
75, who are overweight and have any of the following:
low HDL, elevated triglycerides, elevated blood pressure
or taking blood pressure medications, are encouraged
to participate in the trial. Interested volunteers may
contact Sheri Volger, research coordinator, at 215-898-8672
or sheriv@mail.med.upenn.edu.
The study is funded by the Office of Dietary Supplements
(ODS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and
the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive &
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).
Dr. Philippe Szapary has no financial interest in Nutrition
21, the manufacturer of Chromax chromium picolinate,
the supplement being used in the trial.
For
a printer friendly version of this release, click
here.
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PENN Medicine is
a $2.2 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions
of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality
patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University
of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765
as the nation’s first medical school) and the
University of Pennsylvania Health System (created in
1993 as the nation’s first integrated academic
health system).
Penn’s School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the
nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked
#4 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s
most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical
schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students,
the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its
superior education and training of the next generation
of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.
Penn Health System consists of four hospitals (including
its flagship Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania,
consistently rated one of the nation’s “Honor
Roll” hospitals by U.S. News & World Report),
a faculty practice plan, a primary-care provider network,
three multispecialty satellite facilities, and home
health care and hospice.
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