2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this cooperative research project is to encourage a program of collaboration between contracting parties to further develop teaching and research activities that relate to oxidative stress and insulin activity. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) In order to achieve the goals outlined in this cooperative agreement, both parties will share resources throughout the exchange of students (PhD or post PhD), research visits to cooperation institutions, participation in seminars, academic meetings, and thesis juries, and the exchange of academic materials and scientific publications. The project will focus on using cell culture, animals, and humans to demonstrate the beneficial effects of chromium, cinnamon, and tea extracts as they relate to oxidative stress and insulin action. The mechanisms of these possible antioxidants and insulin sensitizers will be investigated. In addition, the nutritional chromium status of European elderly will be evaluated as well as the genotoxicity of chromium forms in animals and cells. 3.Progress Report This report documents research conducted under a non-funded cooperative agreement between ARS and Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble, France. Additional details of the research can be found in the report for the associated in-house project, 1235-51520-037-00D, "Chromium and Polyphenols from Cinnamon in the Prevention and Alleviation of Glucose Intolerance". This project focuses on using cell culture, animals, and human volunteers to demonstrate the beneficial effects of chromium, cinnamon, and tea extracts as they relate to oxidative stress and insulin action. Studies to evaluate the nutritional chromium status of European elderly, as well as the gene toxicity of different forms of chromium in cell culture systems, were initiated. The project entitled “PCR Analyses Demonstrates That Tea Increases Insulin Sensitivity and Insulin Signaling in Rats with Metabolic Syndrome” was completed. Sample diets and foods consumed by elderly French subjects were obtained, and corresponding urine and blood samples collected; these were analyzed for trace elements, and a manuscript on this study is soon to be published in the British Journal of Nutrition. Other experiments showed an absence of gene toxicity of chromium in cell culture and a manuscript on theses studies was published in Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine. This has been a very successful collaborative project and additional manuscripts are anticipated. Conference calls are held on a bi-monthly basis, and reciprocal visits of the collaborators to the partnering laboratories were completed throughout the year.