What Do We Know About the Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Minerals

Type 2 Diabetes affects millions of people in the U.S., and with obesity rates on the rise, type 2 diabetes will likely become even more prevalent in the future. The disease causes long-term complications and remains an important risk factor for heart disease.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among people with type 2 diabetes is also on the rise. The results from a recently conducted national survey showed that about 1/3 of people with type 2 diabetes use CAM (1). The number is even higher among certain diabetic populations. For example 49% of the Hispanic population in South Texas uses CAM (2).

CAM preferences are determined by cultural and personal factors and can include relaxation, massage therapy, yoga, aromatherapy, acupuncture, and traditional Chinese medicine. Interestingly, herbal remedies and mineral supplements rank consistently high in use, regardless of the population group surveyed.

The interest in the connection between type 2 diabetes and minerals is increasing, however, little is known about the efficacy and safety of minerals in regard to diabetes. The scientific literature is rather sparse on this subject, but among the top minerals studied so far are chromium, magnesium, potassium and calcium.

Chromium

It is well known that chromium is required for the maintenance of normal glucose metabolism. Chromium deficiency is associated with impaired glucose tolerance. Although chromium deficiency is rare, some conditions like extreme stress, excessive exercise, physical trauma, infection and diet high in simple sugars can lead to considerable loss of chromium from the body.

Clinical trials that examined the effects of chromium supplements in people with type 2 diabetes mostly found them to be beneficial by improving clinical symptoms such as excessive thirst and frequent urination (3). Only one out of eight large clinical trials did not find any improvement (4). Moreover, none of the studies reported adverse effects. The variation in results may be related to the different forms of chromium used in the trials. It was pointed out that organic chromium in brewer’s yeast, chromium chloride, and chromium picolinate produced good results while chromium pidolate did not.

Chromium is found naturally in various foods. The recommended (National Institute of Health) daily intake of chromium for adults is 20-35 mcg (microgram).

Foods high in chromium are:

Brewer's Yeast

Considered to be the best source of chromium, two tablespoons of brewer’s yeast are sufficient to provide the recommended daily amount of dietary chromium.

Meat and Seafood

Lean meats (especially processed meats) and organ meats like liver and pork kidneys. Oysters and other shellfish are also rich in chromium.

Fruits and Vegetables

Romaine lettuce, raw onions, tomatoes, broccoli, prunes, asparagus, spinach, basil leaves, fresh chili, green peppers, beets, mushrooms, rye, apples, oranges and bananas. For example, a medium-sized sweet potato contains about 35 mcg of chromium.

Whole grain cereals

Whole grain and bran cereals are also rich in chromium.

If your daily diet includes some of the above mentioned foods there is no need to take chromium supplements. Although the side effects of chromium supplements are rare among healthy individuals, they could potentially cause hypoglycemia in people with type 2 diabetes. Because of the sparse data about chromium supplements safety, always ask your physician for advice before you opt for chromium supplements.

References:

1. Yeh GY, Eisenberg DM, Davis RB, Phillips RS: Complementary and alternative medicine use among patients with diabetes mellitus: results of a national survey. Am J Pub Health 92:1648–1652, 2002

2. Noel PH, Pugh JA, Larme AC, Marsh G: The use of traditional plant medicines for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in South Texas. Phytother Res 11:512–517, 1997

3. Cheng N, Zhu X, Shi H: Follow-up survey of people in China with type 2 diabetes mellitus consuming supplemental chromium. J Trace Elem Exp Med 12:55–60, 1999

4. Anderson RA, Roussel AM, Zouari N, Mahjoub S, Matheau JM, Kerkeni A: Potential antioxidant effects of zinc and chromium supplementation in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Am Coll Nutr 20:212–218, 2001

Copyright Dr. Nelly Stoyanova

Reprint rights: You may repost any article written by Dr. Nelly Stoyanova as long as the article is left intact. Please include the author's bio and a clickable link to our site.

Author's bio: Dr. Nelly Stoyanova is a physician, medical researcher and health behavior expert. She studies the effects of stress on heart disease, type 2 diabetes and sleep. Her website: Belly Fat, Stress and Baby Boomers (http://www.stress-fat-heart-solutions-for-boomers.com) evaluates sources of stress for people over 50 and provides great tips to balance your day-to-day stress and stay healthy. Turn your life around and benefit from her expertise. For individual guidance sessions or to schedule a public speaking event use the Contact page or email at drnstoyanova@gmail.com

From What Do We Know About the Connection Between Type 2 Diabetes and Minerals Return to Big Waistline and Diabetes

Diabetes and minerals related pages:

How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes with Magnesium?
Type 2 Diabetes and Potassium Link
Diabetes and Cancer
Erections Hard to Come By for Diabetic Men Baby Boomer Books
Health Products for Baby Boomers
General Health Articles