Chromium

General Info

Active Forms
Chromium picolinate, chromium polynicotinate, and chromium chloride.

Absorption
Chromium is readily absorbed in the small intestine through an active transport process.

Dietary Sources
Good chromium food sources include whole grain breads and cereals, lean meats, cheeses, and some condiments, such as black pepper and thyme. Brewer's yeast is also rich in chromium.

Dosage Info

Dosage Range 50-1,000mcg daily.(1, 2) Most Common Dosage 200mcg per day. Dosage Forms Tablets, capsules, and liquid.		Adult RDI None established Adult ODA 200mcg		RDA Infants <6 months: 0.2mcg (Adequate Intake, AI) Infants 7-12 months: 5.5mcg (AI) Children 1-3 years: 11mcg (AI) Children 4-8 years: 15mcg (AI) Males 9-13 years: 25mcg (AI) Females 9-13 years: 21mcg (AI) Males 14-50 years: 35mcg (AI) Females 14-18 years: 24mcg (AI) Females 19-50 years: 25mcg (AI) Males >51 years: 30mcg (AI) Females >51 years: 20mcg (AI) Pregnancy 14-18 years: 29mcg (AI) Pregnancy >19 years: 30mcg (AI) Lactation 14-18 years: 44mcg (AI) Lactation >19 years: 45mcg (AI)

Overview

Interactions

Drug/Nutrient Depletions
•	Corticosteroid medications
Nutrient/Nutrient Depletions
•	sugar
•	carbohydrates

Chromium was first discovered as an essential trace element in 1955. The body of an average healthy individual contains only several milligrams. However, this small amount plays important roles in the enhancement of insulin's effectiveness, regulation of blood sugar levels, and the activation of various enzymes for energy production.

Chromium is biologically active only in the trivalent state in which it forms complexes with organic compounds. The most important of these complexes is glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which is comprised of trivalent chromium, niacin, glycine, glutamic acid, and cysteine. In addition to potentiating the effect of insulin, GTF also seems to help lower elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides.

Toxicities & Precautions

Chromium is readily absorbed in the small intestine through an active transport process.

General
There are no known toxicities associated with chromium.

Functions in the Body

Uses

Clinical Applications
	Atherosclerosis.
	Diabetes, Type 1
	Diabetes, Type 2
	Elevated Cholesterol
	Elevated Triglycerides
	Glaucoma
	Hypoglycemia
	Weight Loss

Insulin
Constituents of glucose tolerance factor, which enhances the blood sugar lowering effects of insulin by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells. Increases the activity of insulin, thereby reducing the amount of insulin required to control blood sugar

Regulation of Cholesterol
May play a role in regulating LDL and HDL serum levels.

Clinical Applications

Atherosclerosis.
Patients with coronary artery disease have significantly lower chromium levels compared to normal controls.(3, 4)

Diabetes, Type 1
Chromium picolinate 200mcg 3 times daily caused a reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb A1c) from 11.3 percent to 7.9 percent within 3 months in a woman with an 18-year history of Type 1 diabetes.(5)

Diabetes, Type 2
In Type 2 diabetics, chromium supplementation lowers both blood glucose and insulin levels(6)

Elevated Cholesterol
200mcg/day lowers total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.(7)

Elevated Triglycerides
Are also reduced with chromium supplementation.(8, 9, 10)

Glaucoma
Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma have reduced erythrocyte chromium levels.(11)

Hypoglycemia
Chromium supplementation improves symptoms as well as insulin binding to red blood cells.(12, 13, 14, 15)

Weight Loss
In some cases chromium supplementation has helped to decrease body fat while increasing lean body mass.(16)

Symptoms & Causes of Deficiency

Ingestion of sugar causes the increased urinary excretion of chromium. Therefore, individuals consuming high levels of sugar are at risk of chromium depletion. Another problem is that most of the chromium in foods is lost during food processing.

Chromium deficiency contributes to impaired glucose tolerance.
Maturity onset diabetes is associated with chromium deficiency.
Low levels of chromium are associated with cardiovascular disease.

Footnotes

¹ Preuss HG, Anderson RA. Chromium update: examining recent literature 1997-1998. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. Nov1998;1(6):509-512.
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² Roeback JR Jr, Hla KM, Chambless LE, Fletcher RH. Effects of chromium supplementation on serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in men taking beta-blockers; A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. Dec1991;115(12):917-924.
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³ Newman HA, et al. Serum Chromium and Angiographically Determined Coronary Artery Disease. Clin Chem. Apr1978;24(4):541-44.
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⁴ Canonaco F, et al. Chromium and Atherosclerosis. Pediatr Med Chir. May1986;8(3):415-16.
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⁵ Fox GN, et al. Chromium Picolinate Supplementation for Diabetes Mellitus. J Fam Pract. Jan1998;46(1):83-86.
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⁶ Anderson RA, et al. Elevated Intakes of Supplemental Chromium Improve Glucose and Insulin Variables in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes. Nov1997;46(11):1786-91.
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⁷ Press RI, et al. The Effect of Chromium Picolinate on Serum Cholesterol and Apolipoprotein Fractions in Human Subjects. West J Med. Jan1990;152(1):41-45.
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⁸ Anderson RA. Trace Elements and Cardiovascular Diseases. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol. Copenh. 1986;59(Suppl 7):317-24.
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⁹ Lee NA, et al. Beneficial Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Serum Triglyceride Levels in NIDDM. Diabetes Care. Dec1994;17(12):1449-52.
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¹⁰ Bahijiri SM, et al. The effects of inorganic chromium and brewer's yeast supplementation on glucose tolerance, serum lipids and drug dosage in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Saudi Med J. Sep2000;21(9):831-7.
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¹¹ Lane BC. Diet and the Glaucomas. J Am Coll Nutr. 1991;10(5):536.
¹² Anderson RA, et al. Effects of Supplemental Chromium on Patients with Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia. Metabolism. Apr1987;36(4):351-55.
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¹³ Clausen J. Chromium Induced Clinical Improvement in Symptomatic Hypoglycemia. Biol Trace Elem Res. Sep1988;17:229-36.
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¹⁴ Guan X, et al. High chromium yeast supplementation improves glucose tolerance in pigs by decreasing hepatic extraction of insulin. J Nutr. May2000;130(5):1274-9.
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¹⁵ Preuss HG, et al. Chromium update: examining recent literature 1997-1998. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. Nov1998;1(6):509-12.
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¹⁶ Anderson RA. Effects of Chromium on Body Composition and Weight Loss. Nutr Rev. Sept1998;56(9): 266-70.
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