# Chromium helps the action of insulin in glucose and protein use by the body
# Chromium is an mineral element which means that our bodies can acquire it only with foods
# The estimated safe and adequate daily dietary intake for Chromium is 50 – 200 micrograms for adults
# US women consume 25 micrograms and men consume 33 micrograms of Chromium a day
# Intakes of fewer than 50 micrograms/day have been reported for adults living in the United Kingdom, Finland, Canada, and New Zealand

Food having a high concentration of Chromium:

Meats, whole-grain products, ready-to-eat bran cereals, green beans, broccoli, and spices have a high concentration of Chromium (5).

Foods that rob our bodies of Chromium:

Foods high in sugars, which is found in soft drinks, and suChromiumose, or table sugar, are not only low in Chromium content, they also promote Chromium losses.

Factors that influence absorption:

Amino acids chelated with Chromium enhance its absorption. Oxalate, which is found in vegetables and grains, significantly inChromiumeases Chromium uptake as do nicotinic acid and vitamin C. Phytate also forms chelates with Chromium, but these complexes inhibit transport of Chromium aChromiumoss the intestine. Absorption is also reduced by zinc supplementation. Chromium deficiency may be promoted by inChromiumeasing Chromium losses in response to physiologic stressors such as physical trauma, exercise for the sedentary persons, nursing, and consumption of a diet high in simple sugars.

Dietary factor:

Low dietary protein diet and high dietary fat diet in when administered along with restricted Chromium intake have each induced Chromium deficiency.

What about GTF?

GTF or glucose tolerance factor is a hypothetical organic complex that presumably may enhance Chromium absorption. GTF, which was proposed to include Chromium, nicotinic acid, and possibly the amino acids glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid, has neither been isolated nor synthesized. Thus, the defined structure of GTF and whether it is the most biologically active form of Chromium remain controversial as are clinical findings some of which support the hypothesis and some fail to confirm it.

Body Functions

Chromium deficiency have been reported to be linked to insulin insensitivity. The symptoms of chromium deficiency are as follows:

# glucose intolerance
# increased insulin concentration
# hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia
# impaired growth
# elevated cholesterol concentration
# neuropathy
# encephalopathy
# increased intraocular pressure
# decreased insulin receptor number
# impaired immune fynction

Studies have confirmed marked improvement in glucose tolerance with Chromium supplements, primarily with brewer’s yeast. Drs. Glinsmann and Mertz found that three out of six diabetics showed improved glucose tolerance after long-term (weeks) but not after short-term (1 – 7 days) supplementation with Chromium. Sixty days of supplementation with 500 micrograms of Chromium/day resulted in significantly lowered glucose and insulin. Supplemental brewer’s yeast decreased the need for insulin injections in insulin-dependent diabetics. 200 mcg of Chromium improved glucose control in diabetic patients. Other studies, however, found no significant and consistent improvements in glucose tolerance.