Combinations of chromium with antidiabetics for glucose metabolism disorders

Abstract

Compositions and methods of using the same for the treatment of diabetes and other disorders of glucose metabolism are provided. Compositions may include an anti-diabetic agent and one or more of a bioavailable source of chromium and vanadium.

1 - 96 . (canceled)  
     
     
         97 . A composition comprising synergistic effective amounts of an anti-diabetic agent other than insulin and a bioavailable source of chromium, wherein said anti-diabetic agent is a sulfonylurea; and said composition synergistically reduces the HbA1c levels of a patient by at least about 10% after treatment for a period of at least about thirty days with said composition as compared to treatment with said anti-diabetic agent alone.  
     
     
         98 . The composition according to  claim 97 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, tolazimide, tolbutamide, glycazide, glipizide, glyburide, and glimeperide.  
     
     
         99 . The composition of  claim 97 , wherein said reduction in said Hb1Ac level is at least about 50%.  
     
     
         100 . The composition of  claim 97 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises one or more of chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate.  
     
     
         101 . The composition according to  claim 100 , wherein the bioavailable source of chromium is chromium picolinate; and the amount of chromium picolinate is from about 30 μg up to about 1000 μg, per dose.  
     
     
         102 . The composition according to  claim 100 , wherein the bioavailable source of chromium is chromium polynicotinate; and the amount of chromium polynicotinate is from about 30 μg up to about 5000 μg, per dose.  
     
     
         103 . The composition of  claim 97 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises no less than about 200 micrograms of elemental chromium.  
     
     
         104 . The composition of  claim 97 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises no less than about 100 micrograms of elemental chromium.  
     
     
         105 . The composition of  claim 97 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises no less than about 5 micrograms of elemental chromium.  
     
     
         106 . The composition according to  claim 97 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, tolazimide, and tolbutamide.  
     
     
         107 . The composition according to  claim 97 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of glycazide, glipizide, glyburide, or glimeperide.  
     
     
         108 . The composition according to  claim 97 , wherein said sulfonylurea is glyburide.  
     
     
         109 . The composition according to  claim 97 , wherein said sulfonylurea is glipizide.  
     
     
         110 . The composition according to  claim 97 , wherein said sulfonylurea is glimeperide.  
     
     
         111 . The composition according to  claim 100 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, tolazimide, tolbutamide, glycazide, glipizide, glyburide, and glimeperide.  
     
     
         112 . The composition according to  claim 100 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, tolazimide, and tolbutamide.  
     
     
         113 . The composition according to  claim 100 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of glycazide, glipizide, glyburide, and glimeperide.  
     
     
         114 . A method for improving glucose metabolism, comprising the step of co-administering to a patient for at least about thirty days synergistic effective amounts of an anti-diabetic agent other than insulin, and a bioavailable source of chromium, wherein said anti-diabetic agent is a sulfonylurea; and said anti-diabetic agent and bioavailable source of chromium synergistically reduce the HbA1c level of said patient by at least about 10% after such treatment as compared to treatment with said anti-diabetic agent alone.  
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises no less than about 200 micrograms elemental chromium when administered on a daily basis.  
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises no less than about 5 micrograms of elemental chromium when administered on a daily basis.  
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said bioavailable source of chromium comprises one or more of chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate.  
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the bioavailable source of chromium is chromium picolinate; and the amount of chromium picolinate is from about 30 μg up to about 1000 μg, per dose.  
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the bioavailable source of chromium is chromium polynicotinate; and the amount of chromium polynicotinate is from about 30 μg up to about 5000 μg, per dose.  
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of glycazide, glipizide, glyburide, and glimeperide.  
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said sulfonylurea is selected from the group consisting of acetohexamide, chlorpropamide, tolazimide, and tolbutamide.  
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said sulfonylurea is glyburide.  
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said sulfonylurea is glipizide.  
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said sulfonylurea and bioavailable source of chromium are comprised by a pharmaceutical composition further comprising a physiologically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 114 , further comprising the step of monitoring said subject's HbA1c levels.  
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said reduction in said Hb1Ac level is at least about 50%.