Chromium Histidinate May Safeguard Diabetics from Insulin-Related Health Risks

Results of a preclinical study on Nutrition 21 Inc.’s (Purchase, NY) chromium histidinate ingredient suggest that the ingredient may benefit diabetes patients who are at risk of insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia is an indication of abnormally low blood sugar, which can be caused by an overdose of injected insulin. This condition poses a risk of damage to the human brain.

So researchers at Firat University found that rats fed chromium histidinate before a high-dose injection of insulin were significantly less likely to experience brain damage compared to an untreated group of rats injected with insulin.

“A reduction in the incidence and/or severity of insulin-induced hypoglycemia would have significant value to people with diabetes who use insulin on a daily basis,” said James Komorowski, vice president of R&D at Nutrition 21.

The study, entitled “Chromium histidinate reduces brain damage caused by insulin-induced hypoglycemia,” was presented last week at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology’s annual meeting in Washington, DC.