Effect of trivalent chromium on glucose tolerance
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/ar ... 9566901119Quote:
Trivalent chromium, an essential trace element for maintenance of normal glucosetolerance in the rat, was administered to diabetics and subjects with normal glucose utilization. Oral supplementation with 150 to 1000 μg. of chromium (III) per day for periods of 15 to 120 days was associated with an improved glucosetolerance in 3 out of 6 diabetics. Short term administration of the element was ineffective. Normal glucosetolerance was not influenced. It is suggested that in the human, as in the rat, chromium is required for optimal glucose utilization.
Chromium - blood test
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... 003359.htmQuote:
Chromium is a mineral that affects insulin, carbohydrate, fat, and protein levels in the body. This article discusses the test to check the amount of chromium in your blood. Serum chromium levels normally range from less than 0.05 up to 0.5 micrograms/milliliter (mcg/mL). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.
Chromium, selenium, and other trace element intakes of a selected sample of Canadian premenopausal women
http://www.springerlink.com/content/4091v366mw2312h8/Quote:
Daily Cr, Se, Ag, Cs, Rb, Sb, and Sc intakes of 84 Canadian women aged 30.3±6.1 yr (mean±SD) living in a University community and consuming self-selected diets were determined by analyses of 1-d food composites collected by the subjects. Aliquots of the homogenized food composites were freeze-dried and then analyzed by instrumental neutron activation procedures following irradiation for 72h. In all cases, trace element concentrations in the food composites were non-Gaussian. Median daily intakes were: Cr, 47 μg; Se, 74 μg; Ag, 7.1 μg; Cs, 4.4 μg; Rb, 1.5 mg; Sb 2.0 μg; and Sc, 0.38 μg. Sixty percent and 24% [b]of the subjects received daily Cr[/b] and Se intakes, respectively, below the US Food and Nutrition Board safe and adequate range. High Cr density diets were associated with a significantly higher consumption of cheese and dry legumes and nuts (p<0.05). In the high Se density diets, intakes of grain products and breakfast cereals were significantly higher (p<0.05), and intakes of potatoes, table fats, total fat, saturated fat, and oleic acid were significantly lower (p<0.05) compared to the low Se density diets. The low daily Cr intakes evident in this study may be cause for concern in view of the increasing evidence that women may be at greater risk for deficiency of Cr than men because of Cr depletion during pregnancy.
Role of chromium supplementation in Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12550067Abstract
Quote:
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with adverse cardiovascular risk. The role of micronutrients has not yet been well clarified in this condition, especially in India. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY WERE TO: (1) evaluate chromium status in Indian subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, (2) assess the effect of chromium picolinate (200 &mgr;g trivalent chromium twice daily) administration on glycaemic control and lipid profile in these subjects and (3) comment on the possible mechanism of any beneficial effect noted above. Fifty subjects were studied in a double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover fashion, with each treatment arm (chromium/placebo) lasting 12 weeks and 4 weeks' wash-off period in between. 50 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers served as controls. Serum chromium level appeared to be higher in the general population in our country compared to western countries (36.5-59.5 nmol/L as compared to 2.3-40.3 nmol/L) However, the local diabetics were found to have a lower serum chromium level than the healthy controls (32.3 nmol/L against 44.7 nmol/L; p < 0.0001) and a mean increase of 3.5 nmol/L was noted after 12 weeks of chromium supplementation that was, expectedly, not seen in the placebo phase (p < 0.0001). Significant improvement in glycaemic control was noted in the chromium-treated group (DeltaFasting serum glucose = 0.44 mmol/L, p < 0.001; DeltaPost-prandial serum glucose = 1.97 mmol/L, p < 0.001; Deltaglycated hemoglobin = 0.01; p = 0.04, in comparison to placebo) This was accompanied by a significant greater fall in fasting serum insulin in the chromium-treated group, p < 0.05. The change in lipid parameters (total serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides) did not show significant difference between the chromium and placebo groups. Clinically significant hematological, renal or hepatic toxicity were excluded by routine hemogram, serum urea, creatinine, alanine amino transferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase estimations. In conclusion, chromium supplementation seems to improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetic patients, which appears to be due to an increase in insulin action rather than stimulation of insulin secretion.
i have not yet located any studies on chromium in ms but anyway, this all looks pretty interesting. might be worth taking a stab at evaluating your dietary chromium intake, for starters.