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Epidemiological studies have shown lower levels of chromium among men with diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with healthy control subjects. The mechanism by which chromium may decrease the incidence of CVD and insulin resistance is not known. Using erythrocytes as a model, this study demonstrates that chromium inhibits the glycosylation of proteins and oxidative stress, both risk factors in the development of CVD. Erythrocytes were treated with high levels of glucose (mimicking diabetes) in the presence or absence of chromium chloride in the medium at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. Chromium supplementation prevented the increases in protein glycosylation and oxidative stress caused by the high levels of glucose in erythrocytes. This study demonstrates for the first time that chromium supplementation inhibits protein glycosylation in erythrocytes exposed to high glucose medium, which appears to be mediated by its antioxidative effect. This provides evidence for a novel mechanism by which chromium supplementation may decrease incidence of CVD in diabetic patients.

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The aim of this study was to test the combined effect of a quality-controlled red clover extract (RCE) standardized to contain 40% isofl avones by weight (genistein, daidzein, biochanin A, and formononetin present as hydrolyzed aglycones) together with a modifi ed alkaline supplementation on bone metabolic and biomechanical parameters in an experimental model of surgically-induced menopause. Sprague-Dawley female rats were maintained under controlled standard conditions of light and fed with conventional food of standard calcium content and no alfalfa or soybean components. Rats were randomized into four groups: Group A represented normal rats (sham operated) while three other groups were ovariectomized (OVX) and fed for three months as follows: standard food (group B), 6 mg/kg/day food mixed with RCE (Group C), or given 6 mg/kg/day of RCE plus a modifi ed alkaline supplementation (BP) through a nasogastric tube at a dose of 16 mg (group D). The animals were killed 90 days after surgery. As compared to group B, RCE or RCE + BP treatments brought about signifi cantly higher level of estradiol and mitigated the weight loss of the uterus and improved maximum load of the femoral neck. Osteocalcin level showed an over 65% increase in group B but both RCE and RCE + BP treatments prevented such abnormality with a signifi cantly better result in RCE + BP group which virtually normalized such parameter as well as urinary excretion of DPD. Group C and D reduced the over 20% loss of bone mineral density and bone mineral content/body weight ratio observed in untreated post-ovariectomy group. Untreated ovariectomy caused about 48% decrease of cancellous bone mass in the femoral neck while this abnormality was prevented at similar extent by both RCE and RCE + BP treatments. Ovariectomy determined an over 80% increase of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) level but both RCE and RCE + BP treatments signifi cantly mitigated such variable. The BALP decrease yielded by the combined RCE + BP treatment was statistically lower than RCE alone. Taken together these data show that red clover preparation in dosages amenable to clinical practice do improve OVX-induced osteoporosis while a mild metabolic alkalosis might further synergize some therapeutic aspects.