Methods for the treatment of diabetes, the reduction of body fat, improvement of insulin sensitivity, reduction of hyperglycemia, and reduction of hypercholesterolemia with chromium complexes, conjugated fatty acids, and/or conjugated fatty alcohols

Abstract

A composition for treating insulin-dependent diabetes, reducing body fat, improving insulin sensitivity, reducing hyperglycemia, and reducing hypercholesterolemia with at least one chromium complex and a conjugated fatty acid or conjugated fatty alcohol is disclosed. A method of treating a subject suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes by administering a composition that includes at least one chromium complex and a conjugated fatty acid or conjugated fatty alcohol is similarly provided. The administration of a composition containing an effective dose of at least one chromium complex and a conjugated fatty acid or conjugated fatty alcohol for the treatment of obesity is likewise provided.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of prior application Ser. No. 09 / 957,876, filed Sep. 20, 2001, which claims priority to provisional application filed Sep. 21, 2000 having application No. 60 / 234,474, and provisional application filed Jun. 6, 2001 having application No. 60 / 296,688, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The disclosed invention related to compositions and methods for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, reduction of body fat, improvement of insulin sensitivity, reduction of hyperglycemia, and reduction of hypercholesterolemia. Specifically, compositions comprising chromium complexes in combination with conjugated compounds such as isomers of conjugated fatty acids or conjugated fatty alcohols. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art Insulin-Dependent Diabetes [0005] Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder which afflicts 16 million people in the United States, ove...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0057] A subject suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes is identified. The subject is orally administered a daily dose of one tablet containing about 500 μg chromium as chromium nicotinate and 500 mg conjugated linoleic acid. Over the course of several days, an improvement in glucose uptake in the subject is observed and insulin dependence is reduced. The chromium nicotinate in combination with linoleic acid act synergistically to improve the subject's glucose tolerance and to treat the subject's diabetes.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, virtually every major organ system in the body is damaged by diabetes.

Nutritional therapies that positively impact glucose uptake in the face of insulin insufficiency would have a major impact on the long term treatment costs associated with diabetic care.

Furthermore, obesity is associated with high cholesterol, complications of pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, and increased surgical risk.

With the exception of PPA, all of these drugs require a physician's prescription and are generally quite expensive.

Side effects occur with all these drugs.

For example, the administration of fenfluramine and phentermine for the treatment of obesity resulted in cardiac valve damage in some patients and ultimately led to the withdrawal of fenfluramine from the market.

Two of the newest drugs for the treatment of obesity have side effects that limit their use.

Sibutramine increases blood pressure in a subset of patients, and orlistat may have unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects.

Chromium depletion results in biologically ineffective insulin and compromised glucose metabolism.

Under these conditions, the body must rely primarily on lipid metabolism to meet its energy requirements, resulting in the production of excessive amounts of acetyl-CoA and ketone bodies.

Some of the documented acetyl-CoA is diverted to increased cholesterol biosynthesis, resulting in hypercholesterolemia.

The introduction of inorganic chromium compounds per se into individuals is not particularly beneficial.

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