From:
Linda Iroff
Date: 2001-02-28 14:52:00 UTC
Subject: brewer's yeast
Chromium supplements and brewer's yeast (which contains chromium) have been
used for insulinomic ferrets because they are thought to "regulate" blood
sugar levels. However, all previous studies were done in cases of HIGH
blood sugar (ie diabetes) where LOWERING the blood sugar is considered
regulating it.
People have read "regulate" and assumed it meant brought to a more normal
level. But recent studies have shown that chromium also LOWERS blood sugar
levels in normal animals.
Lowering blood sugar is the last thing we want to do for insulinomic
ferrets!
My information is from Drs. Jerry Murray and Karen Purcell. Dr. Murray
discusses this in issue #27 of Modern Ferret Magazine.
Linda Iroff
Oberlin OH