Chromium (Cr)

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Chromium (Cr)

• One of the 9 essential minerals

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• 2500 years ago, Hypocrites, the Father of
  Medicine, said to his students Let thy food be
  thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.
• In 1959, the mineral chromium was identified as
  an active component in human nutrition. Our
  bodies need Cr for normal growth and health, but
  it must be obtained from our diet.
• Cr is part of the Glucose Tolerance Factor (with
  B3 and amino acids) necessary for the regulation
  of blood sugar levels.
• Cr works with insulin for normal glucose
  metabolism and conversion of amino acids into
  protein.

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• Some causes of depletion
• Continued stress
• Frequent sugar consumption
• Infection
• Strenuous physical exercise
• Pregnancy
• Deficiency is implicated in adult onset of
  diabetes.

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• Deficiency Symptoms
• Excessive or cold sweats
• Dizziness or irritability after 6 hrs without
  food (Hypoglycemia)
• Need for frequent meals
• Cold hands
• Need for excessive sleep or drowsiness during the
  day
• Excessive thirst

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Other Uses and Effects

• Cr can be expected to lower blood sugar to some
  degree and insulin levels may need to be adjusted
  to avoid episodes of hypoglycemia.
• Cr is important in the metabolism of fats and
  carbs
• Cr stimulates fatty acids and cholesterol
  synthesis and is an activator of several enzymes.
• Cr also plays a role in the regulation of blood
  cholesterol levels. A study showed modest
  reductions in plasma cholesterol and LDL
  cholesterol in patients with high cholesterol as
  a result of treatment with Cr picolinate for 6
  weeks. (Humans, laying hens and pigs)
• Cr3 Cr picolinate and vanadyl sulfate are two
  mineral compounds being added to many nutritional
  supplements because they are purported to have
  positive effects on energy and protein metabolism
  and body composition.

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RDA

• Cr is an essential trace element for humans, and
  the recommended daily allowance (RDA) is between
  50 200 micrograms/day.
• Dr. Richardson Anderson, a US Dept. of
  Agriculture scientist who has spent most of is
  career studying Cr points out that since
  chromium is a nutrient and not a therapeutic
  agent, it will only benefit those people whose
  signs and symptoms are due to marginal or overt
  chromium deficiency.

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Where Do I Get it?Cr 30 micrograms (as
picolinate) can be found in

• Liver
• Seafood (oysters, fish)
• Whole grains/whole wheat bread
• Mushrooms
• Asparagus
• Brewers yeast (trivalent chromium active factor
  CrCl3)
• Egg yolk
• Molasses
• Beer

• Meats (beef, chicken, calves liver)
• Green peppers
• Apples
• Bananas
• Spinach
• Butter
• Dairy products (cheese)
• Potatoes with skin
• Black pepper
• Thyme

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Toxicity?

• Symptoms of toxicity
• Vertigo
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Convulsions
• Shock and coma
• (these are normally due to exposure in industrial
  processes)
• Cr4 compounds are carcinogenic and can induce
  testicular atrophy in rats but there is no
  evidence that Cr3 has any such risks.

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END
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