Download Chromium - Athlete Development Systems

Chromium (Cr)
One of the 9 essential minerals
• 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.
• Some causes of depletion:
Continued stress
Frequent sugar consumption
Infection
Strenuous physical exercise
Pregnancy
• Deficiency is implicated in adult onset of
diabetes.
• 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
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.
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.
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
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.
www.chromiuminfo.org/index2.html
www.trans4mind.com/nutrition/
END