Metabolic Syndrome, Chromium & Vanadium

Weight Gain, Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome “X”

Insulin Resistance Syndrome (IRS), sometimes referred to as Metabolic Syndrome
“X” is a medical condition affecting as many as one in four Americans.
Considered to be a ‘pre-diabetic’ state, IRS precedes the development of
diabetes by as much as 10 years.

Insulin is a hormone, secreted by the pancreas.  Insulin has two principal
functions: (1) control of blood sugar, and (2) deposition of free fatty acids
into the fat cells.  If the insulin receptor becomes dysfunctional, it takes
more and more insulin to maintain normal blood sugars.  Unfortunately, the
increase in the Insulin level results in fat deposition, mostly in the abdomen.

As more and more insulin is needed to maintain blood sugar levels, the fat cells
respond to the situation by becoming ‘fatter.’  This in turn results in even
higher insulin levels.  Eventually, blood sugar levels cannot be maintained,
even with the very high insulin levels, and ‘diabetes’ is diagnosed.  Clearly,
the animals were well out of the barn by the time ‘diabetes’ was finally
diagnosed.

The key to diabetes prevention is detecting ‘insulin resistance’ before things
get totally out of control.  In order to do this, serum insulin levels should be
determined simultaneously with blood glucose.

NOTE:  Healthy blood sugar to insulin ratio should be greater than 10 to 1.

The first step to restore more normal, lower insulin levels is to treat with a
combination of trace minerals.  The key here is balance.  Chromium and vanadium
are associated with insulin receptor dysfunction, but these should not be taken
without adequate intake of zinc and selenium. Many patients will
experience some weight loss. Typically, patients will
lose 4-8 pounds over the course of 6 to 8 weeks.

After 1-2 weeks of mineral use, blood sugar levels can be expected to drop.
When weight loss ends, additional chromium is administered.  Typically chromium
200 mcg, taken twice daily is added to the a typical regiment of chromium and vanadium.
Alpha Lipoic Acid(ALA) 500 mg taken twice daily will further sensitize the cells to insulin.

Source:  Email from David Stephen Klein, MD, FACA, FACPM, FACMIMS