Chromium

Question 1

Which oxidation state of chromium is primarily found in foods and in the human body?

Answer 1

Cr+3

Question 2

What are the important biochemical and physiological functions of chromium in the human body?

Answer 2

Enhances the function of insulin

Question 3

Precisely where in the body tissues does chromium exert its influence on blood sugar regulation?

Answer 3

Intracellular portion of the insulin receptor which increases the activity of the receptor to take up glucose into the cell

Question 4

What dietary choices may increase urinary chromium losses?

Answer 4

High sugar diets increase chromium excretion. Long-term intake of refined sugars and perhaps other high glycemic index carbohydrates may help to deplete chromium from the body, leading to poorer cell response to insulin.

Question 5

What are the apparent clinical effects of chromium deficiency?

Answer 5

Impaired glucose tolerance (elevated glucose) and increased insulin requirements due to reduced activity of insulin

Question 6

Which individuals may be at greatest risk of chromium deficiency?

Answer 6

Identifying individuals who have chromium deficiency is difficult, because no reliable test for chromium nutritional status has been developed yet.

Question 7

What is the current status of the search for good tests for chromium nutritional status?

Answer 7

There is a lack of sensitive and accurate tests for determining chromium nutritional status.

Question 8

What criteria was used by the Food and Nutrition Board to set a recommendation for daily chromium intake?

Answer 8

Based on levels in “normal” US diets, not on optimal function.

Question 9

Compare the results of trials of chromium supplementation in non-diabetics with impaired glucose tolerance to results of trials in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Answer 9

For patients with type 2 diabetes, large doses of chromium picolinate seem to show better results. Trials of chromium supplements in people with milder forms of glucose intolerance are inconsistent.

Question 10

What is the apparent validity of claims that chromium supplementation will increase muscle mass and promote weight loss?

Answer 10

Numerous controlled trials have been mostly disappointing.

Question 11

What difficulties would be encountered when attempting to analyze someone’s diet for chromium content?

Answer 11

Analyzing food content of chromium is also technically difficult. This is partly due to the fact that chromium is a component of the stainless steel alloys typically used in food processing and analytical equipment. Also tests that are available are limited and cannot show fully the effects of Chromium on people and its benefits or risks.

Question 12

Which form of chromium supplement is the least bioavailable one?

Answer 12

Cr+6

Question 13

Damage to which organ has been reported in association with long-term use of large amounts of chromium picolinate?

Answer 13

Kidney and Liver damage