CHROMIUM – THE BLOOD SUGAR ELEMENT

by Lawrence Wilson, MD

GENERAL

Blood sugar regulating mineral, alkaline-forming element, deficiency is almost universal today, and appears to become worse with age.

SOURCES OF CHROMIUM

Seafood - oysters

Meats - calves' liver, egg yolk

Nuts/seeds - peanuts

Fruit - grape juice

Dairy - American cheese

Grains - wheat and wheat germ

Miscellaneous - brewer's yeast, black pepper, molasses

ROLES IN THE BODY

· Glucose tolerance factor - chromium required for blood sugar levels and energy levels.

· Cholesterol regulation

· Other possible roles involved in the synthesis of DNA

FUNCTIONS OF CHROMIUM

Circulatory - serum cholesterol regulation

Digestive - sugar and carbohydrate utilization (via insulin)

Nervous - maintenance of nervous system by regulation of blood sugar

Eyes - corneal clarity

Muscular - supplies energy for muscular contraction

Skeletal - essential component of bones and hair

Protective - immune system (via insulin)

Metabolic - fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism regulation

METALLOENZYMES

Phosphoglucomutase - glucose metabolism

CHROMIUM DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

atherosclerosis elevated serum cholesterol

fatigue, diabetes hypoglycemia

depressed growth diabetes

CHROMIUM EXCESS SYMPTOMS

Some forms of chromium, especially chromium-6, are extremely toxic and are industrial pollutants, not usually found in foods.

asthma kidney damage

allergies sinusitis

calcium deficiency ulcers

causes an iron deficiency nausea, vomiting

SYNERGETIC NUTRIENTS

insulin, glucose, magnesium, vitamin B6, zinc, manganese, oxalates, salicylates

ANTAGONISTIC NUTRIENTS

Absorption - iron, manganese, zinc, vanadium, phytates

Metabolic - glucagon

HAIR ANALYSIS NOTES

The ideal hair tissue chromium level is probably about 0.14 mg% or about 1.4 ppm. This may be somewhat variable.

High hair tissue chromium:

· Usually biounavailable, unless due to frank toxicity, which is rare.

· Occasionally rises on a retest due to its release from tissue storage sites. This is likely the release of a biounavailable form of chromium, perhaps an oxide or other toxic form. This usually occurs along with a release of biounavailable manganese, iron and perhaps aluminum, as these elements often move together in the body. All may take toxic and unavailable forms in the body, perhaps to stimulate or irritate the adrenals when the body is in a resistance or exhaustion stage of stress. To read more about this important phenomenon, read The Amigos on this website.

Low hair tissue chromium:

· Often due to chromium deficiency, which is common in modern diets. It becomes worse if one eats refined flour and sugar that tend to deplete chromium.

· Excessive iron intake is a possible cause for low chromium levels.

REASONS FOR CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTATION

· Superb, at times, for glucose intolerance, diabetes, hypoglycemia, fatigue, elevated cholesterol, and perhaps some mitochondrial imbalances.

· All the common forms of chromium supplements such as chelates, yeast-based GTF chromium, picolinate and hexaniacinate appear to be well-absorbed.

· Chromium supplements may raise the hair sodium level.

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