Chromium complexes as enhancers of brain glucose transporters

Abstract

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions for enhancing brain glucose transporters, such as GLUT1 and GLUT3, and methods of treating and/or preventing diseases or disorders associated with the regulation GLUT1 and GLUT3. Also provided are compositions that include chromium and an agent that targets the brain or the central nervous system. Further provided are improved methods of delivering therapeutic agents that target the brain and/or central nervous system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a disease associated with decreased brain glucose levels, comprising:
 identifying a subject having a disease associated with decreased brain glucose levels; and   administering to the subject an amount of chromium effective to increase the levels of GLUT-1 or GLUT-3 in the brain.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chromium is a chromium complex. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the chromium complex comprises at least one of chromium histidinate, chromium trihistidinate, chromium polyhistidinate, chromium dinicocysteinate, chromium picolinate, chromium dipicolinate, chromium tripicolinate, chromium nicotinate, chromium dinicotinate tryptophan, chromium dinicotinate tyrosine, chromium dinicotinate hydroxycitrate, chromium dinicotinate cinnamate, chromium dinicotinate gallate, chromium dinicotinate 5-hydroxytryptophan, chromium dinicotinate aspartate, chromium dinicotinate glutamate, chromium dinicotinate arginate, chromium tris(tryptophan), chromium nicotinate, chromium triphenylalanine, chromium tris(tyrosine), chromium tris(hydroxycitrate), chromium tris(5-hydroxytryptophan), chromium tris(cinnamate), chromium tris(gallate), or combinations of the forgoing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the chromium complex comprises at least one of chromium nicotinate, chromium picolinate, chromium histidinate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the chromium complex is chromium histidinate. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is Alzheimer's disease. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is dementia. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is mild cognitive impairment (MCI). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is Huntington's Disease. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is epilepsy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease or disorder is and Parkinson's Disease. 
     
     
         14 . A method of increasing GLUT-1 or GLUT-3 expression in the brain of a subject with a high-fat diet, comprising:
 identifying a subject having a high fat diet; and   administering to the subject an amount of chromium effective to increase levels of GLUT-1 or GLUT-3 expression in the brain.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the chromium is a chromium complex. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the chromium complex comprises at least one of chromium histidinate, chromium trihistidinate, chromium polyhistidinate, chromium dinicocysteinate, chromium picolinate, chromium dipicolinate, chromium tripicolinate, chromium nicotinate, chromium dinicotinate tryptophan, chromium dinicotinate tyrosine, chromium dinicotinate hydroxycitrate, chromium dinicotinate cinnamate, chromium dinicotinate gallate, chromium dinicotinate 5-hydroxytryptophan, chromium dinicotinate aspartate, chromium dinicotinate glutamate, chromium dinicotinate arginate, chromium tris(tryptophan), chromium nicotinate, chromium triphenylalanine, chromium tris(tyrosine), chromium tris(hydroxycitrate), chromium tris(5-hydroxytryptophan), chromium tris(cinnamate), chromium tris(gallate), or combinations of the forgoing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the chromium complex comprises at least one of chromium nicotinate, chromium picolinate, chromium histidinate, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the chromium complex is a combination of chromium histidinate and chromium picolinate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the subject is human. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein GLUT-1 or GLUT-3 expression increases by at least about 50%.