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Home > Minerals > Chromium >
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Chromium & Vanadium
This combination of minerals is especially helpful for people with blood
sugar difficulties as both minerals assist in glucose metabolism. Chromium & Vanadium
have been reported to help those with Type II diabetes.
Studies on chromium GTF and vanadium have proved so promising that
Natural Factors has combined these nutrient into one convenient
nutritional supplement. Chromium: is a component of a molecule called
Glucose Tolerance Factor that regulates blood sugar levels, making it
beneficial for both high and low blood sugar problems. The hormone
insulin will not work without chromium. As a ‘master hormone’ insulin
regulates much more than blood sugar levels--it also controls fat,
protein and energy metabolism, so any insulin imbalance can have
far-reaching negative health effects.
When we get enough chromium our sensitivity to insulin is improved and
blood sugar levels may become normalized, whereas insufficient chromium
may be responsible for hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, glycosuria and
insulin resistance. Chromium does not stimulate the body to make more
insulin, rather it makes insulin that is already present work more
effectively. Out of 16 well-designed studies on the effect of chromium
supplementation on diabetics, 13 studies showed blood glucose
improvement with chromium supplementation.
"Chromium in the form of the GTF is released into the blood...whenever
there is a marked increase in the blood levels of sugar (glucose) and/or
of insulin. Hence, the GTF might be considered to behave like a hormone.
It, along with insulin, acts in making it easier for amino acids, fatty
acids, and sugars to pass from the blood into the cells of various
tissues. It also promotes the metabolism of the nutrients within the
cells. Much more insulin is required when GTF is lacking" Ensminger,
Ensminger, et al. (eds.) Foods & Nutrition Encylopedia. 2nd ed. 1993.
vol. 1. p. 418.
Vanadium: an ultra-trace mineral is found in our body and in a variety
of foods. Vanadium seems to help improve blood sugar levels and insulin
resistance. Often as people age, their cell receptors sites are not as
responsive to their own production of insulin, causing a dangerous rise
in blood sugar. This ‘insulin resistance’ is contrasted with type 1
diabetes which is caused by the inability to produce enough insulin.
Vanadium and its effect on blood glucose levels has been studied off and
on for about 100 years. In 1985 a group of researchers studied the
effect of vanadium on diabetic rats. Supplemental vanadium brought their
blood glucose to normal. Although there are few studies on vanadium, the
results so far are very promising.
Studies show that vanadium may improve glucose tolerance in persons with
non-insulin-dependent -diabetes-mellitus (NIDDM). In animal studies,
supplemental vanadium also helped to normalize blood sugar levels.
The studies used vanadyl sulfate (VS), a form of vanadium. Eight
patients with type 2 diabetes or NIDDM were given 50 mg vanadyl sulfate
twice daily for four weeks in this single-blind, placebo-controlled
study. After a four-week placebo phase, the results were tallied. "VS
administration was associated with a 20% decrease in fasting glucose
concentration and a decrease in hepatic glucose output (HGO) during
hyperinsulinemia. The improvement in fasting plasma glucose and HGO that
occurred during vanadyl sulfate treatment was maintained during the
placebo phase...We conclude that vanadyl sulfate at the dose used was
well tolerated and resulted in modest reductions of fasting plasma
glucose and hepatic insulin resistance." Boden, G. et al. “Effects of
vanadyl sulfate on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in patients with
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.” Metabolism. Sept. 1996.
45(9):1130-5.
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