Human studies of supplemental chromium (as chromium picolinate)
up to 1000 micrograms (mcg) per day showed no adverse effects and should be
considered safe.
Leading scientific researchers presented the
latest epidemiological and clinical data on the role of chromium picolinate
supplementation in chronic disease at the Council for the Advancement of
Diabetes Research and Education (CADRE) Research Summit: Chromium in Health and
Disease. Recent research suggests that chromium enhances insulin action which
may help lower some risk factors for diseases associated with insulin
resistance, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Polycystic
Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and atypical depression.
Insulin resistance is a condition associated with
obesity and is also strongly related to hypertension, lipid disorders and
cardiovascular disease. "Prior human studies have suggested that chromium
picolinate decreases insulin levels and improves blood sugar metabolism in both
obese people and people with type 2 diabetes," stated William T. Cefalu, MD,
Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine
and co-chair of the CADRE Summit. "This summit is important because not only
will leading experts present relevant data regarding clinical observations with
this nutrient, but precise studies assessing the mechanism of action will be
presented," added Cefalu.
Chromium is an essential mineral that potentiates
insulin, a hormone that influences carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism.
"There is a widespread tendency toward increased consumption of highly processed
foods such as refined sugar which is not only low in chromium, but also
stimulates chromium losses," states Richard Anderson, PhD, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. "Essentially all the
studies using chromium picolinate supplementation for impaired glucose
intolerance and diabetes showed a positive effect," added Anderson.
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) reviewed the
scientific literature on chromium picolinate and did not find any basis to set
an Upper Limit (UL), meaning that there were no substantive concerns about
safety of chromium at any of the levels used in relevant studies. "This review
included human studies of supplemental chromium (as chromium picolinate) up to
1000 micrograms (mcg) per day and there were no observed adverse effects from
intake of chromium, hence chromium picolinate is safe," commented John Hathcock,
PhD, vice president, scientific and international affairs of the Council for
Responsible Nutrition (CRN).
The Council for the Advancement of Diabetes Research and Education (CADRE) is a not-for-profit organization committed to reducing the devastating complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes through achievement of tight metabolic control. To achieve this goal, CADRE provides health care professionals with scientific information and educational programs that support, highlight, and promote practical guidelines for patient education and management as well as cutting-edge research in diabetes pathophysiology and treatment. CADRE programs are funded by educational grants from Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Inc., and Nutrition 21.
Source: Diabetes In Control Dot Com.
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