Method and composition for preventing or reducing the symptoms of insulin resistance syndrome

Abstract

A method for preventing and or reducing the symptoms of insulin resistance and a related syndrome in persons comprises identifying persons having or at risk for having such symptoms, and administering to them an effective amount of a composition comprising chromium bound niacin that prevents or reduces the symptoms. Compositions incorporating chromium bound niacin and additional compounds also are disclosed that are particularly effective in preventing or reducing these symptoms.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM [0001] This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 10 / 265,093, titled: Method and Composition for Preventing or Reducing the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance Syndrome, inventors: Debasis Bagchi, Harry G. Preuss and Shil C. Kothari, filed Oct. 4, 2002 (IHEAL-01037US1) which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 327,896, titled: Method for Preventing or Reducing the Symptoms of Insulin Resistance Syndrome, inventors: Debasis Bagchi, Harry G. Preuss and Shil C. Kothari, filed Oct. 5, 2001 (IHEAL-01037US0). These applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to a method and composition for preventing or reducing the symptoms of insulin resistance syndrome in a person. [0003] An insulin resistance syndrome that has been identified as “Syndrome X” by previous research is a common metabolic disorder affecting more than 75 million Americans to some de...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] The present invention resides in a method for preventing or reducing the symptoms of insulin resistance in a person, the method comprising: identifying a person suffering from or at risk for suffering from the symptoms; and administering a composition comprising an effective amount of chromium bound niacin that, when administered to the person, alleviates, reduces or prevents the symptoms. The method preferably incorporates administering a composition comprising between about 50 and about 1,000 μg chromium bound niacin, preferably in two doses per day.

Problems solved by technology

This elevated insulin level leads to increased risk of a variety of symptoms, including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Atherogenic risk factors associated with obesity and Syndrome X contribute independently to the development of atherosclerotic disease, and risk of a cardiovascular event increases sharply with the burden of risk factors associated with obesity.

Increased risk is evident at BMI levels below average, indicating that moderate obesity can be unhealthy.

Central obesity, typically including measurements of waist girth or waist to hip ratio, has been shown to be more metabolically disadvantageous than other forms of obesity and, as a consequence, it is considered a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease.

Obesity may promote increased absorption in the renal tubules, expanding blood volume and inducing an autonomic imbalance that results in hypertension.

In addition, insulin resistance often eventuates into glucose intolerance and diabetes which in turn accelerates atherogenesis.

Diabetes is associated with high blood lipids, hypertension and a tendency of blood platelets to clot, which can block arteries resulting in heart attack or stroke.

However, even with control of weight, many people can still develop Syndrome X. Also, many people find controlling their weight to be difficult, and they are unsuccessful in their attempts.

In 1997, researchers at the University of Texas, Austin, showed that a combination of administration of chromium bound niacin along with exercise in obese women resulted in a significant weight loss in women and also lowered the increase in insulin levels when the women were orally fed glucose.

Chromium further reduces vascular smooth muscle calcium loads and thus reduces peripheral vascular resistance in insulin-resistant states.

However, though the above studies demonstrate that administering chromium bound niacin may serve as a beneficial therapeutic method for reducing or preventing the various symptoms associated with Syndrome X, this has not been entirely effective.