STONY BROOK, N.Y., January 29, 2009 – The General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at Stony Brook University Medical Center is seeking volunteers to take part in a clinical trial to evaluate if a common dietary supplement is effective in decreasing insulin resistance, thereby improving metabolic health, in obese individuals. The study tests Chromium Picolinate in a population that may be at risk of developing diabetes.
Obesity causes insulin resistance when fat tissue growth fails to keep up with calorie intake. The excess fat accumulates in muscle and liver making metabolites that decrease insulin’s impact on tissues, which makes it take longer to remove sugar from the blood in these individuals following a meal. This process in some obese individuals can lead to the development of diabetes.
“We will examine the impact of Chromium Picolinate on fat, liver, and muscle by blood analysis, and we will also test its effect on tissue in participants,” says Dennis Mynarcik, Ph.D., Principal Investigator. “The results should indicate whether the supplement decreases insulin resistance in this population, which may ultimately help to prevent diabetes in some of these individuals.”
To be eligible for the trial, participants must be 25 to 45 years of age and be considered obese by standards based on height and weight. Before participation, the GCRC clinical team will complete a metabolic analysis on each individual. The analysis is essential for participation and may also help to guide individuals in lifestyle changes to ensure their future health.
The trial lasts eight weeks, requires an overnight stay in Stony Brook University Hospital, and is conducted at the GCRC. During the study period, participants are evaluated by clinicians and take either Chromium Picolinate or a placebo. Individuals may be compensated up to $1,800 if they are selected to participate in the 12-week study. Those enrolled in the 8-week study may be compensated up to $1,150.
For more information about the study and enrollment, call the GCRC at Stony Brook University Medical Center at 631-444-3740.
-30-
