Chromium is an essential trace mineral. There are two forms: trivalent chromium, which is safe for humans, and hexavalent chromium, which is a toxin. Trivalent chromium is found in foods and supplements. It might help keep blood sugar levels normal by improving the way the body uses insulin. People use chromium for chromium deficiency.
How does chromium help stabilize blood sugar?
Chromium can help enhance the role of insulin, the critical hormone that controls blood sugar and helps bring glucose into cells where it’s used for bodily energy. Chromium also supports a healthy metabolism and storage of nutrients throughout the body, since it can help you better absorb and distribute nutrients from carbohydrates, fats and ...
Can chromium help lower blood glucose?
This led to clinical trials on supplemental chromium, demonstrating its ability to lower blood sugar in individuals with diabetes. Yet, it wasn’t until 2001 that chromium was recognized as an essential nutrient for humans, required for normal carbohydrate metabolism.
Does chromium help metabolize sugars?
Chromium can help enhance the role of insulin, the critical hormone that controls blood sugar and helps bring glucose into cells where it’s used for bodily energy. Chromium also supports a healthy metabolism and storage of nutrients throughout the body, since it can help you better absorb and distribute nutrients from carbohydrates, fats and ...
What are the health risks of chromium?
- asthma,
- chronic bronchitis,
- chronic irritation,
- chronic pharyngitis,
- chronic rhinitis,
- congestion and hyperemia,
- polyps of the upper respiratory tract,
- tracheobronchitis, and
- ulceration of the nasal mucosa with possible septal perforation [Lindberg and Hedenstierna 1983; Dayan and Paine 2001].
How much chromium should I take daily for blood sugar?
Some researchers suggest that 1,000 micrograms a day should be considered the upper limit. Excessive doses of chromium may actually worsen insulin sensitivity. The doses used in clinical studies vary. For example, for diabetes, people have taken 200-1,000 micrograms daily, split two to three times a day.
How long does it take for chromium to lower blood sugar?
It May Improve Blood Sugar One study found that 16 weeks of 200 μg/day of chromium was able to lower blood sugar and insulin while improving the body's response to insulin ( 8 ).
Is chromium good for diabetic person?
Results from an additional study indicated that chromium supplementation has significant positive effects on glucose and insulin metabolism in patients with diabetes.
Is chromium as effective as metformin?
A large number of studies have confirmed the effectiveness of chromium in decreasing FBS, HbA1C, and fasting and 2 hours insulin in the patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (10). Metformin has the same effect as chromium on the pregnancy rate.
Which chromium is best for diabetics?
Chromium picolinate, specifically, has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Dietary chromium is poorly absorbed. Chromium levels decrease with age.
Does chromium help with A1C?
Chromium significantly improved FPG, A1C, insulin sensitivity, and free fatty acid levels compared to placebo.
When is the best time to take chromium?
What's the best time to take chromium picolinate? Since chromium can interfere with sleep, it's a good idea to take chromium picolinate supplements in the morning.
Can I take chromium with metformin?
While chromium supplementation may be beneficial for people with diabetes , its use in combination with metformin or with any other blood sugar-lowering medication should be supervised by a doctor.
Does chromium have side effects?
Chromium has been used safely in doses of 200-1000 mcg daily for up to 2 years. Some people experience side effects such as stomach upset, headaches, insomnia, and mood changes. High doses have been linked to more serious side effects including liver or kidney damage.
How long does it take for chromium to work?
Your body only needs tiny amounts of chromium for healthy function, but it can take from a few days to a week to experience any benefits. Consistency is key and our research recommends taking your Feel supplements for at least 3 months to allow your body to adjust and provide the desired benefits.
What is the best form of chromium to take?
picolinateChromium (Cr) supplements are available as picolinate, nicotinate or chloride (the latter primarily in multivitamin-mineral supplements). The picolinate form has been reported to be the best absorbed and most efficacious, but some reports question which form has superior absorption.
Can chromium raise blood pressure?
Chromium supplementation improves blood pressure by decreasing DBP in patients with T2DM. Chromium supplementation fails to improve BMI, liver enzymes and SBP.
How long does it take for chromium to work?
Your body only needs tiny amounts of chromium for healthy function, but it can take from a few days to a week to experience any benefits. Consistency is key and our research recommends taking your Feel supplements for at least 3 months to allow your body to adjust and provide the desired benefits.
When is the best time to take chromium?
What's the best time to take chromium picolinate? Since chromium can interfere with sleep, it's a good idea to take chromium picolinate supplements in the morning.
Is 200 mcg of chromium too much?
Chromium has been used safely in doses of 200-1000 mcg daily for up to 2 years. Some people experience side effects such as stomach upset, headaches, insomnia, and mood changes. High doses have been linked to more serious side effects including liver or kidney damage.
How long does chromium stay in your system?
In humans, the kidney excretes about 60% of an absorbed Cr(VI) dose in the form of Cr(III) within 8 hours of ingestion. Approximately 10% of an absorbed dose is eliminated by biliary excretion, with smaller amounts excreted in hair, nails, milk, and sweat [Kiilunen, Kivisto et al. 1983; ATSDR 2000].
What is the role of chromium in blood sugar?
Aiding insulin function. Insulin is a hormone that plays the major role in making sure your blood sugar is not too high or too low. As part of Low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance (also known as chromodulin), chromium appears to interact with insulin receptors.
Why is chromium used in diabetics?
Given insulin’s critical role in controlling blood sugar, it’s not surprising that chromium supplements are mainly used by diabetics to help maintain healthy blood glucose and cholesterol levels.
How much Chromium picolinate should I take?
Chromium picolinate supplements typically provide doses of 200 – 500 mcg. Multi-ingredient supplements usually use slightly smaller dosages, in combination with ingredients such as cinnamon. Most people get sufficient amounts of chromium from a balanced diet, but diabetics may have lower levels.
How much chromium is in brewer's yeast?
Forty participants were given placebo or brewer’s yeast containing 42 mcg chromium daily for 3 months. The yeast group experienced a drop in fasting blood glucose levels and HbA (1)C levels, suggesting improved glucose control.
What is the role of chlorium picolinate in blood sugar?
Chromium is a trace mineral required in small amounts for proper body function. Chromium been suggested to help with blood sugar by: Supporting insulin. Chromium is needed for the proper function of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.
Why has chromium failed to provide conclusive results?
Did you know? One of the main reasons why research of chromium has failed to provide conclusive results is because of the difficulty of measuring chromium levels and the effect of chromium supplements. 13
What is Chromemate niacin?
ChromeMate ®. A patented chromium-niacin complex which may have higher absorption than other chromium forms.
How much chromium is in a multivitamin?
Most multivitamins contain 35–120 mcg of chromium, although some advanced formulas have more. It comes in various forms such as chromium picolinate, chromium polynicotinate, and Crominex 3+—a newer type blended with botanicals for increased bioavailability. Chromium is also available as a single-ingredient supplement, and it is a common component of multi-ingredient supplements for blood sugar control.
What is the name of the compound that prevents diabetes in lab animals?
That compound, which they called glucose tolerance factor (GTF), was eventually identified as the biologically active form of the trace mineral chromium.
Does chromium increase cholesterol?
Cholesterol & triglycerides: Low chromium levels have been linked with elevations in cholesterol. In addition, some studies have demonstrated marked increases in protective HDL cholesterol and reductions in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides with supplemental chromium.
Is chromium safe for diabetics?
Supplemental chromium is so safe that the Food and Nutrition Board—the arm of the National Academy of Medicine that sets RDAs (recommended daily allowances) and ULs (tolerable upper limits)—didn’t even set a UL, since no adverse effects were found at any level. They did note that high doses could be problematic for people with liver or kidney disease, and it is conceivable, though unlikely, that it could drive blood sugar too low when taken with diabetes drugs or by those prone to hypoglycemia.
Is chromium a supplement?
Supplemental chromium has also been evaluated as a potential therapy for additional conditions, most of them related to insulin resistance and therefore more common in individuals with diabetes:
Does chromium help with blood sugar?
The benefits of chromium for blood sugar control are believed to be due to its effects on insulin—it binds to insulin receptors and enhances insulin activity. Chromium may also increase the number of insulin receptors and improve beta-cell sensitivity in the pancreas.
Does Chromium lower BMI?
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): Chromium has significantly reduced BMI, fasting insulin, and hormone levels in women with this condition. This is important because PCOS causes infertility, obesity, elevated testosterone, and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
How does chromium help the body?
The key role that chromium plays in the human body is by supporting blood sugar balance. It does this by influencing efficient transport of glucose into the cells. Once glucose is delivered to the cells, it can be used for energy and blood sugar levels become more balanced and stable. Chromium also helps support carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.
What are some supplements that help with chromium absorption?
Other vitamins and minerals can be added to supplement formulations to enhance the health-supporting effects and absorption of chromium. For example, vitamin C has been shown to enhance chromium absorption. Other nutrients that have been shown to support blood sugar balance are vitamin E, magnesium, and vanadium.
What is the most common form of chromium?
The most common forms of chromium sold as a dietary supplement are chromium picolinate, chromium polynicotinate, glucose-tolerance factor chromium (chromium GTF), and chromium cruciferate. Because chromium absorption can be an issue, many of these forms of chromium have been shown to be more easily absorbed and safer than other forms of chromium. When chromium is combined with picolinic acid, it is known as chromium picolinate, a substance that has been featured in the scientific research. Chromium GTF is found in Brewer’s yeast and that form is also very popular among integrative practitioners. A chelated chromium nicotinate glycinate is also available.
How much chromium should I consume daily?
According to the National Institutes of Health, the adult recommended adequate intake is between 50–200 mcg daily. The best food source of chromium is broccoli, which contains about 11 mcg per ½ cup serving. One cup of grape juice contains 8 mcg. A three-ounce pork chop contains 8.5 mcg and a whole wheat English muffin has about 4 mcg.
Is chromium a trace mineral?
Talking to patients about the trace mineral chromium may not be easy. Let’s face it, most patients are pretty familiar with minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc; however, many may not have heard of the trace mineral chromium. And yet chromium’s role in supporting health is just as significant as those other, more widely known, minerals.
Can you get enough chromium from diet alone?
Although chromium deficiency is thought to be rare, it can be difficult for some patients to get enough chromium from diet alone. In addition, chromium levels tend to decline with age. Some medications such as antacids, proton-pump inhibitors, steroids, and H2 blockers may also reduce chromium absorption. For these and other reasons, integrative healthcare practitioners often look to dietary supplements to fill the gap.
Health Benefits of Dietary Chromium for Type-2 Diabetics
Stating that chromium is actually good for health puts many people in doubt. This is because this heavy metal is often associated with toxins. It is a part of the wastage material of many industries. Hence, people have a hard time wrapping their heads around using chromium for health benefits.
Biological Mechanism
As a result, chromium can be beneficial for diabetic patients. What happens in diabetes is that your body produces sufficient amount of insulin. However, the body is unable to completely utilize it to its full potential.
Weight Loss
Chromium can be instrumental for weight loss. Its consumption reduces cravings and suppresses hunger. Since it helps regulate blood sugar, it can help you keep away from the sudden spikes in blood sugar that induce high fat and sugar cravings.
Lipid Metabolism
Many studies show that chromium can positively increase good cholesterol levels in the blood, and at the same time decreases bad cholesterol levels. Bad cholesterol levels are both causes of serious heart conditions.
How to Get Chromium from Your Diet?
With all the emphatic benefits of chromium, it is important that you know the foods that naturally contain the supplement. Another great thing about this nutrient is that you not need too much of it. An intake of 25 to 35 micrograms of chromium is enough for adults.
Plant Based Sources
Children have different requirements of this nutrient. You can get this nutrient from natural sources such as Brazil nuts. These nuts have an incredible nutrient profile, and they contain an abundant amount of this element.
Seafood Options
If you want to move past the plant-based sources, then try resorting to mussels. If you are creating a weight loss diet, then mussels are undoubtedly one of the most nutrient dense foods that you can include.
Is the door closed on Chromium?
Nonethe less, the door is not closed upon the possibility that chromium may have other effects of interest.
Is chromium a mineral?
Chromium is a mineral required by humans in minute concentrations and is obtained naturally in the diet. Actually, few cases of deficiency have been documented.
Does chromium affect fasting glucose?
The study, "Improved meta-analytic methods show no effect on chromium supplements on fasting glucose" is published in the journal Biological Trace Element Research.
Does chromium lower blood sugar?
Nearly three decades of data were studied on the effect of chromium supplementation on blood sugar. The results conclude that chromium supplements are not effective at lowering fasting blood sugar in healthy individuals, or diabetics. Chromium is a mineral required by humans in minute concentrations and is obtained naturally in the diet. Few cases of deficiency have been documented.
What is Chromium used for?
Chromium is used for chromium deficiency. It is also used for diabetes, high cholesterol, a hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts ( polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
How long is chromium safe to take?
When taken by mouth: Chromium is LIKELY SAFE for most adults in medicinal amounts, short-term. Up to 1000 mcg per day of chromium has been used safely for up to 6 months. When taken by mouth in these doses for longer periods of time, chromium is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults.
How much chromium should I take for a 14 year old?
For males 9-13 years old, it is 25 mcg; for males 14-18 years old, it is 35 mcg. For females 9-13 years old, it is 21 mcg; for females 14-18 years old, it is 24 mcg. Taking chromium in amounts above the AI level is POSSIBLY SAFE for most children.
How much Chromium should I take during pregnancy?
Chromium is POSSIBLY SAFE to use during pregnancy in amounts higher than the AI levels. But don't take chromium supplements during pregnancy unless advised to do so by a healthcare provider.
How long does chromium chloride last?
Early research shows that taking 600-800 mcg of chromium chloride daily for up to 2 years can decrease the frequency of severe mood disturbances in people with bipolar disorder that is resistant to treatment. Decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age.
Does chromium picolinate lower blood sugar?
Taking chromium picolinate may lower fasting blood sugar, insulin levels, and blood fats in some people with type 2 diabetes. Higher chromium doses might work better than lower doses. Chromium supplements might work best in people with low chromium levels.
Does chromium help with memory loss?
Research shows that taking 1000 mcg of chromium daily for 12 weeks does not improve memory or depression in older people with mild mental decline.
What Is Chromium Used For?
Chromium supplements are often used as a weight-loss aid and to control blood sugar. Chromium works by aiding the action of insulin in the body. Insulin is essential for metabolism and storage of carbs, fats, and proteins in the body. How it functions in the body as a supplement is not well known. It is found in a variety of foods but the amount in each type of food is not always easy to determine.
What medications affect the absorption of chromium?
These include: Antacids. Corticosteroids. H2 block ers (cimetidine, famotidine, and nizatidine) Protein pump inhibitors (omeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole, pantoprazole, and esomeprazole) ...
How much chromium is in broccoli?
Chromium occurs naturally in some foods in varying amounts. For example, broccoli could contain about 11 mcg per 1/2 cup serving, mashed potatoes contain 3 mcg per 1 cup serving, and red wine contains anywhere from 1 to 13 mcg in a 5-ounce serving. The exact amount of this mineral that we get from our food varies greatly depending on what you eat.
How does chlorium help you lose weight?
Health Benefits. Chromium supplements are often used as a weight-loss aid and to control blood sugar. Chromium works by aiding the action of insulin in the body. Insulin is essential for metabolism and storage of carbs, fats, and proteins in the body. How it functions in the body as a supplement is not well known.
Where is chromium found?
Chromium is a mineral that is found in certain foods and in the environment. There are two known forms: trivalent (chromium 3+) and hexavalent (chromium 6+). The trivalent form is found in foods (and will be the focus of the following information). Hexavalent chromium is toxic and is found in industrial pollution.
Does chromium picolinate lower blood sugar?
Reviews of multiple studies show that chromium supplements significantly decreased blood sugar and triglyceride levels in people with type 2 diabetes. A systematic review of 25 studies found that supplementation with 200 micrograms (mcg) of chromium picolinate improved glycemic control without increased side effects compared to placebo.
Is chromium citrate absorbed by the body?
High-chromium yeast. Chromium citrate. It is not known which form is most effective in the human body, but chromium chloride, in particular, has poor bioavailability. This means it is not broken down and absorbed by the body very well. Verywell / JR Bee.
Why is chromium important for diabetes?
Chromium is an important factor for enhancing insulin activity. Studies show that people with type 2 diabetes have lower blood levels of chromium than those without the disease. Insulin resistance is the common denominator in a cluster of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
How much chromium is needed for blood glucose control?
Supplements containing 200-1,000 mcg chromium as chromium picolinate a day have been found to improve blood glucose control. Chromium picolinate is the most efficacious form of chromium supplementation. Numerous animal studies and human clinical trials have demonstrated that chromium picolinate supplements are safe.
What is the role of chlorium in insulin?
Chromium is an essential mineral that appears to have a beneficial role in the regulation of insulin action and its effects on carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism. Chromium is an important factor for enhancing insulin activity . Studies show that people with type 2 diabetes have lower blood le …
Does chromium picolinate help with diabetes?
Chromium picolinate, specifically, has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Dietary chromium is poorly absorbed. Chromium levels decrease with age.
Does chromium help with insulin?
Several studies have now demonstrated that chromium supplements enhance the metabolic action of insulin and lower some of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, particularly in overweight individuals.
