Supplements: Discover the supplement duo with numerous health benefits

A simple combination of one vitamin and one mineral - when taken together - may help diabetics regulate blood sugar levels, manage cholesterol, and even control carbohydrate cravings.

Multi-tasking supplement
In a study presented recently at an American Heart Association (AHA) Conference, Chicago researcher Dr Jeffrey Geohas (medical director of Radiant Research), examined the effect of a chromium picolinate (CP) and biotin formula on 24 type 2 diabetics.

For 30 days, half the group took a daily dose of 600mcg of CP and 2mg of biotin, while the other half took a placebo. All of the subjects had previously taken anti-diabetic drugs, but still had difficulty managing sugar levels. Before and after the trial, researchers measured each subjects fasting blood glucose, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, and levels of apolipoprotein A (apo A) and apolipoprotein B (apo B).

As Ive noted in previous e-alerts, apo A is the protein component of HDL, and apo B is the protein component of LDL. Studies have shown that the ratio between apo A and apo B may be more accurate in revealing heart health than the HDL-LDL ratio.

Dr Geohas team found that subjects who took the CP and biotin supplement improved in all of the categories measured:

• Apo B decreased by an average of more than 5 mg per decilitre (mg/dL)
• Ratio of Apo A to Apo B improved
• Fasting blood glucose was reduced, on average, by more than 26 mg/dL
• More than 70 percent of the supplement group experienced significant drops in fasting blood glucose
• LDL cholesterol levels decreased by more than 10 mg/dL on average

LDL and apo B both increased in the placebo group, and less than 30 percent of the placebo subjects recorded appreciable drops in fasting blood glucose.

One-two punch
The Radiant Research trial used a CP and biotin supplement called Diachrome. And it should be noted that the research was funded by Nutrition 21, the company that manufactures Diachrome and owns the patent on chromium picolinate. But you dont necessarily need supplements to get the full benefits of chromium and biotin.

Biotin - part of the complex of B vitamins - has been shown to help metabolise fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The two best food sources are cooked eggs and liver. (Raw eggs contain a protein that prevents biotin absorption.) According to the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI), biotin research on rats indicates that this vitamin may stimulate insulin secretion in the pancreas. And one study - cited on the LPI web site - showed that a group of 43 type 2 diabetics had significantly lower biotin levels compared to non-diabetic subjects.

Chromium is a component of insulin, and previous research has already shown that this mineral may help regulate blood sugar levels. Broccoli is particularly rich in chromium, as is turkey meat, liver, seafood, whole grains and oysters. But there is an apparent advantage in taking a chromium picolinate supplement. Picolinic acid (which is naturally produced in the body) is believed to improve absorption of trace metal ions. And studies show that absorption of minerals is significantly enhanced when the minerals are in picolinate form.

In addition to Diachrome, chromium picolinate supplements are available from many internet sources and health food stores.

Constant craving
According to naturopathic doctor Joseph Mercola, some people find that chromium may also help control sugar and carbohydrate cravings.

This was confirmed in a recent study presented this month at a National Institute of Mental Health conference in the US. Researchers recruited more than 110 subjects with atypical depression. (One of the most common symptoms of atypical depression is the craving of carbohydrates.) About two-thirds of the subjects took a daily supplement of chromium picolinate for eight weeks.

The other subjects received a placebo. Subjects who took the CP supplement reported an overall drop in their carb cravings compared to the placebo group. Many subjects in the CP group also reported significantly less depression.

Scientists know that people who are depressed are almost twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as those who are not. Many researchers believe that the link between these two conditions is carbohydrate intake. For most people, removing a craving for carbs may not be as simple as taking a daily CP supplement, but a little help from a natural source certainly couldnt hurt.

Actually, mega-doses of chromium might be harmful for some. But most people dont get large amounts of chromium in their diets anyway, so a daily supplement of 600 mcg should not be a problem.

As always, though, its a good idea to consult with your doctor or healthcare advisor before beginning any new supplement regimen.