[Chromium (III)-ion enhances the utilization of glucose in type-2 diabetes mellitus].

Introduction: The prevalence of the type 2 diabetes mellitus is still growing. Although the occurrence of insulin resistance is quite frequent in the whole population, diabetes not always develops because for a time the compensating mechanism avoids it. In a frequent variation of type-2 diabetes the disease is not the result of an alteration in the insulin receptor or the glucose transporter, but a genetically determined defect of the postreceptorial intracellular signaling mechanism plays a role in its occurrence. There have been investigations for decades to find out more about the role of chromium (III) ions in glucose metabolism and in the prevention of type-2 diabetes. It has also been investigated if chromium substitution can prevent or treat those forms of diabetes where chromium deficiency is suspected to be in the background of the disorder.

Aim: The aim of our present investigation is to test the role of chromium (III) compounds in glucose metabolism that are known from literature. The authors examined the effect of oral chromium supplementation on antidiabetic treatment. Chromium supplementation was applied for 6 months.

Methods: Before, through and after the investigation changes in the patient's carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were followed by laboratory tests.

Results: At the end of our examination the cholesterin level significantly, the HbA1c level close to the significant value decreased. Due to their results the authors presume that chromium (III) compounds may be effective in the treatment of patients' with decreased glucose tolerance or type-2 diabetes mellitus as a supplement to their therapy.