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The Eclectic Physician
Vitamin and Mineral Information
Chromium
The information on this page compiled by
Beth Burch N.D.
Index
(click on the keywords)
Function
Chromium acts with insulin to promote normal blood
glucose levels by moving glucose into cells. It may also help to increase
HDL cholesterol and decrease total cholesterol and triglycerides. Deficiency
is characterized by elevated blood sugar levels and is common with malnutrition
and inadequate intake.
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Forms
-
Chromium picolinate
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Chromium polynicotinate
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Food Sources
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Brewer’s yeast, liver and whole grains are the best sources of chromium.
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Dosage
-
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
-
There is no RDA for chromium.
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Optimal Supplementation
Treatment
of Health Conditions
Conditions used
for
-
Impaired glucose utilization- both diabetes and hypoglycemia (1,
2, 3, 4, 5)
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Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides (6,
7)
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Acne (8)
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Dysthymia- potentiates antidepressants (9)
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Chromium deficiency
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Side effects
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Increased dream activity and decreased sleep requirements
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Contraindications
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Interactions
with other nutrients
-
Calcium may reduce chromium absorption
-
Vitamin C may increase chromium absorption
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Interactions
with medications and herbs
-
Antacids may reduce chromium absorption
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References
1. Anderson RA, Chromium, glucose intolerance and diabetes,
J Am Coll Nutr 1998;17(6):548-55
2. Striffler JS et al, Dietary chromium decreases insulin resistance
in rats fed a high-fat, mineral-imbalanced diet, Metabolism 1998;47(4):396-400
3. Anderson RA, Chromium as an essential nutrient for humans, Regul
Toxicol Pharmacol 1997;26(1 Pt 2):S35-41
4. Anderson RA, Recent advances in the clinical and biochemical effects
of chromium deficiency, Prog Clin Biol Res 1993;380:221-34
5. Anderson RA, Chromium, glucose tolerance, and diabetes, Biol Trace
Elem Res 1992;32:19-24
6. Press RI et al, The effect of chromium picolinate on serum cholesterol
and apolipoprotein fractions in human subjects, West J Med 1990;152:41-45
7. Wang MM et al, Serum cholesterol of adults supplemented with brewer’s
yeast or chromium chloride, Nutr Res 1989;9:989-98
8. McCarty M, High-chromium yeast for acne?, Med Hypotheses 1984;14(3):307-10
9. McLeod MN et al, Chromium potentiation of antidepressant pharmacotherapy
for dysthymic disorder in 5 patients, J Clin Psychiatry 1999;60(4):237-40
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* The information presented in this web site is intended to inform and educate.
It is not intended replace a qualified medical practitioner to diagnose or treat medical conditions.
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