The aim of this study was to determine the effect of chromium (Cr)-enriched yeast on blood glucose and insulin variables,
blood lipids, and blood markers of oxidative stress in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (median duration: 3.0 yr). Thirty-six
subjects (9 men, 27 women; mean age: 61.3 yr; mean body mass index: 34.33 kg/m
2) were supplemented with 400 μg Cr/d as Cr-enriched yeast (
n=19) or placebo (
n=17) for 12 wk in a randomized, double-blind study. The most interesting results were obtained by comparison of the change
in the placebo group to the change in the Cr group. The Cr group showed a significantly greater increase in serum Cr compared
to the placebo group (
p<0.05). Supplementation with Cr-enriched yeast was associated with a significant decrease in fasting serum glucose compared
to placebo (
p<0.01). Blood markers of oxidative stress glutathione peroxidase activity and levels of reduced glutathione were essentially
unchanged in the Cr group after 12 wk, but decreased significantly in the placebo group (
p<0.05,
p<0.01, respectively), Serum HbA
1c and glycated protein (fructosamine) were essentially unchanged in the Cr group, whereas HbA
1c tended to increase in the placebo group (from 6.94% to 7.11%). Fasting serum insulin decreased in both groups, with a greater
tendency in the Cr group (−16.5% vs −9.5%). These data suggest that supplementation of well-controlled type 2 diabetics with
Cr-enriched yeast is safe and can result in improvements in blood glucose variables and oxidative stress.
Index Entries Chromium - diabetes mellitus - glycated hemoglobin - insulin - oxidative stress - yeast