Project Number: 1235-51520-037-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Nov 18, 2004
End Date: Jan 22, 2009

Objective:
Overall objective of the proposed research is to help control the incidence of impaired glucose metabolism and decrease the conversion of glucose intolerance to diabetes. Specific objectives include the following. 1)Elucidate the role of Cr in the onset of impaired glucose metabolism using a stress-induced rat model for Cr deficiency. 2)Determine methods to assess Cr status and elucidate its functions in human nutrition. 3)Define the role and mechanistic effects of insulin potentiating polyphenols from cinnamon on intracellular signals that regulate insulin-induced glucose uptake and oxidative stress.

Approach:
Compounds that enhance insulin activity lead to a more sensitive response to insulin and improve glucose tolerance. Increased levels of stress lead to loss of nutrients including chromium (Cr), a nutrient that is involved in glucose and insulin metabolism. We propose to elucidate the role of Cr in a stress-induced diabetes rat model. Steroid-induced diabetes in people taking steroids such as prednisone has been shown to be reversed by increased intake of chromium. This project is designed to elucidate the role of the chronic stress of low level administration of the steroid, dexamethasone, in the augmentation of deficiency of chromium. These studies will facilitate our collaborative human study to elucidate the roles of Cr in human nutrition and also methods to assess Cr status. There are currently no reliable methods to assess Cr status. This study will combine reliable analytical measures of chromium status with studies to elucidate the function of chromium in human nutrition. We also propose to define the role and mechanistic effects of insulin potentiating polyphenols from cinnamon on intracellular signals that regulate insulin-induced glucose uptake, oxidative stress and NF-'B activation. These studies should lead to a greater understanding of the roles of chromium and polyphenols from cinnamon in the prevention and alleviation of glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes.