Supplement study for diabetes patients

Patients suffering from type 2 diabetes are to be the focus of a new study sponsored by supplement producer Nutrition 21. The company wants to evaluate the effects of its recently-patented chromium picolinate and biotin supplement, which it sells under the name Diachrome.

The Diachrome supplement has already been shown to improve blood sugar and lipid profiles in clinical and pre-clinical studies, and now the company wants to test its efficacy in treating diabetes.

The company's programme unites a diverse group of parties interested in reducing the nearly $100 billion in costs associated with the care of the more than 16 million Americans with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes educators representing more than 20 managed care organisations, hospitals, clinics and government agencies will administer the programme to more than 500 patients nationwide, providing them with patient care kits that include a three month supply of Diachrome furnished by Nature's Bounty, and patient education literature supplied by The American Diabetes Association.

Other contributors include Bayer, Abbott Laboratories, and BioSafe Laboratories.

Detailed individual progress reports will be provided to participants by iControl Diabetes. DiabetesInControl.com will analyse results of the study. Nutrition 21​ said it expects to announce interim results from the first phase of this study at a leading medical conference in the autumn.

"This national programme is expected to validate Diachrome's positive effect on blood sugar control in the diabetic population. Concurrently, we are planning a more formal study in both adult and paediatric type 2 diabetics with a leading research institution. Our funding of these programmes underscores our commitment to confirming initial evidence of Diachrome's efficacy and its potential to improve the quality of diabetes management at a reduced cost,"​ Nutrition 21 said.