cinnamon and chromium for insulin resistance

#CINNAMON AND CHROMIUM FOR INSULIN RESISTANCE SKIN#

Emerging evidence also suggests that myo-inositol may be effective the treatment of other disorders related to insulin resistance including gestational diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome as well as the management of diabetic complications (20). Several studies have found myo-inositol to be very effective for the treatment of PCOS, primarily due to its ability to improve insulin sensitivity (19). A systematic review of 3 clinical trials found a statistically significant improvement in HbA1c at three to five months with 4 grams a day of a sweet potato dietary supplement compared to placebo (18). Sweet potatoĪ particular sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) extract has been used as a dietary supplement for type-2 diabetes in a number of studies. However lipoic acid is a potent anti-oxidant and improves nerve function making it a potentially useful supplement for managing complications of elevated blood glucose and oxidative stress including vascular disease and neuropathy (16,17). Lipoic acidīoth intravenous and oral administration lipoic acid has been studied in type-2 diabetics and it appears the effects or oral supplementation are modest, with improvements insulin sensitivity following supplementation typically less than 20% (15). The RCTs also found benefit for cardiovascular risk factors suggesting pycnogenol may be particularly useful for reducing associated cardiovascular risk (14). One open label preliminary study and two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the ability of pycnogenol to improve blood glucose control in diabetics (11-13). Pycnogenol is a standardized extract of French maritime pine bark composed of procyanidins and phenolic acids. A review of clinical studies suggested that individuals with more severe insulin resistance might have a better response to chromium supplementation specifically individuals with type-2 diabetes and marked elevations in fasting glucose and HbA1c (10).

ChromiumĬhromium has been subject to several clinical trials but these have generally produced inconsistent findings with some showing benefit while others do not (9). Cinnamon is promising but it appears better quality research is needed to clarify its clinical use (8). Compared to medications the reduction in fasting glucose from cinnamon (–24.59 mg/dL) was lower than metformin (–58 mg/dL) and superior to sitagliptin (–16 to –21 mg/dL). A more recent meta-analysis of 10 clinical studies however found inconsistent evidence for cinnamon (7). The culinary spice cinnamon was found in a meta-analysis of 6 clinical studies to improve blood glucose control with statistically significant improvements in glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in studies of up to 4 months duration (6). This article summarizes a selection of nutritional supplements with compelling evidence for clinical efficacy and concludes with a summary and guide for developing a personalized prescription (table 1). An individualized prescription based on the best available evidence would therefore be a logical approach to improving blood glucose control with nutritional supplements. Nutritional supplements are receiving increasing interest as a viable treatment option and in some cases there is rigorous evidence that certain supplements could be included in standard care for improving blood glucose control (5).īecause the effectiveness of nutritional interventions is influenced by factors such as dietary intake and variations in requirements and metabolism it is unlikely that a “one size fits all” prescription is appropriate.

#CINNAMON AND CHROMIUM FOR INSULIN RESISTANCE SKIN#

acne, skin tags, and acanthosis nigricans) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (2).ĭietary change, exercise, behavioral changes and medication are typically the first-line treatment for improving blood glucose control however there are concerns about the real-world benefits and potential side effects of conventional medications (3,4). Although type-2 diabetes, which affects more than one in 20 people (1), is the most apparent example there are a host of other common insulin resistance related illnesses including obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, dermatological disorders (e.g. Illnesses related to poor blood glucose control and insulin resistance are amongst the most commonly encountered in clinical practice.

Cinnamon and chromium for insulin resistance