Review
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World J Diabetes. Apr 15, 2014; 5(2): 160-164
Published online Apr 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i2.160
Chromium does not belong in the diabetes treatment arsenal: Current evidence and future perspectives
Gijs WD Landman, Henk JG Bilo, Sebastiaan T Houweling, Nanne Kleefstra
Gijs WD Landman, Henk JG Bilo, Sebastiaan T Houweling, Nanne Kleefstra, Diabetes Centre, Isala, 8000 GK Zwolle, The Netherlands
Henk JG Bilo, Department of Internal Medicine, University Medical Center, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
Sebastiaan T Houweling, Department of General Practice, University Medical Centre, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
Author contributions: Landman GWD and Kleefstra N Performed literature search; Landman GWD and Kleefstra N analyzed literature search results; Landman GWD, Bilo HJG, Houweling ST and Kleefstra N wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Gijs WD Landman, MD, PhD, Diabetes Centre, Isala, P.O. box 10400, 8000 GK Zwolle, The Netherlands. g.w.d.landman@isala.nl
Telephone: +31-38-4242518 Fax: +31-38-4247694
Received: December 11, 2013
Revised: January 23, 2014
Accepted: March 13, 2014
Published online: April 15, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: In some patients who received prolonged parenteral nutrition, absence of trivalent chromium caused insulin resistance and diabetes and supplementation with trivalent chromium “cleared” this metabolic disease. The question is, whether chromium deficiency is a relevant factor in the cause of type 2 diabetes in general and whether supplementation with trivalent chromium can have beneficial effects in type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, no reliable methods to estimate chromium status exists and according to current evidence, chromium does not improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes and patients should be advised not to take chromium supplements.