Chromium

Basic Information

Available from natural sources? Yes
Available from synthetic sources? No
Prescription required? No

NATURAL SOURCES

Beef
Brewer's yeast
Calves' liver
Chicken
Dairy products
Eggs
Fish and seafood
Fresh fruit
Oysters
Potatoes, with skin
Whole-grain products

REASONS TO USE

Promotes glucose metabolism. Helps insulin regulate blood sugar. Decreases insulin requirements and improves glucose tolerance of some people with maturity-onset diabetes.

UNPROVED SPECULATED BENEFITS

Relieves atherosclerosis and diabetes. Facilitates binding of insulin to cell membrane.

WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS?

Anyone with inadequate caloric or dietary intake or increased nutritional requirements. Those who abuse alcohol or other drugs. People with a chronic wasting illness or who have recently undergone surgery. Those with a portion of the gastrointestinal tract surgically removed. People with recent severe burns or injuries.

DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

Reduced tissue sensitivity to glucose, similar to diabetes Disturbances of glucose, fat and protein metabolism Symptoms exhibited by people with maturity-onset diabetes, such as overweight, fatigue, excess thirst, increased appetite, frequent urination, decreased resistance to infection, urinary- tract infections and yeast infections of the skin, mouth and vagina

UNPROVED SPECULATED SYMPTOMS

None

LAB TESTS TO DETECT DEFICIENCY

Serum chromium Hair analysis is NOT a reliable test for deficiency or toxicity

DOSAGE AND USAGE INFORMATION

What this mineral does:

• Aids transport of amino acids to liver and heart cells.
• Enhances effect of insulin in glucose utilization.

  Miscellaneous information:
  

• Chromium toxicity can result from industrial overexposure, such as tanning, electroplating, steel making, abrasives manufacturing, cement manufacturing, diesel-locomotive repairs, furniture polishing, fur processing, glass making, jewelry making, metal cleaning, oil drilling, photography, textile dyeing, wood-preservative manufacturing.
• Nutritional science has yet to determine exact amounts of chromium in most foods. Less than 1% of dietary chromium is absorbed.

  Available as:
  

• A constituent of many multivitamin/mineral preparations.

  WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

  Don't take if you:
  

• Work in an environment that has high concentrations of chromium.

  Consult your doctor if you have:
  

• Diabetes.
• Lung disease.
• Liver disease.
• Kidney disease.

  Over age 55:
  

• No special needs if you eat a balanced diet.

  Pregnancy:
  

• Avoid during pregnancy.

  Breast-feeding:
  

• Avoid during breast-feeding.

  Effect on lab tests:
  

• Diagnostic tests, such as red-blood-cell-survival studies, performed after radioactive hexavalent chromium is used for 3 months may cause falsely elevated levels in blood.

  Storage:
  

• Store in cool, dry place away from direct light, but don't freeze.
• Store safely out of reach of children.
• Don't store in bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and moisture may change action of mineral.

  OVERDOSE/TOXICITY

  Signs and symptoms:
  Dietary form has very low toxicity. Long-term exposure to
  chromium may lead to skin problems, perforation of nasal septum,
  lung cancer, liver impairment, kidney impairment.
  

  What to do:
  

• For symptoms of overdosage: Discontinue mineral, and consult doctor.
• For accidental overdosage (such as child taking entire bottle): Dial 911 (emergency), 0 for operator or your nearest Poison Control Center.

  ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS

  None expected
  

  INTERACTION WITH MEDICINE, VITAMINS OR MINERALS

  Interacts with	Combined effect
  Insulin	May decrease amount of
  	insulin needed to treat
  	diabetes.

  INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES

  Sugar is partially destroyed by chromium.