MAIN Health Vitamins & Minerals Chromium

Chromium is a member of the periodic table with the symbol Cr. It is an essential mineral for maintaining health and has many uses and applications in the human body.

There is a great deal of research that suggests that chromium is beneficial to those with impaired glucose tolerance.

Impaired glucose tolerance, which is a precursor to type 2 diabetes for about 25% of those who acquire it, is a state in between the glucose levels of diabetes and normal glucose levels. A meta-analysis of 15 different studies on the relationship between chromium and impaired glucose tolerance found that 12 of the 15 studies showed a positive effect.

Both type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance are closely linked to the cardiovascular system, and so it is believed that chromium also has a number of positive effects. Although researchers have not come to any sort of consensus to date, many believe that chromium affects cholesterol levels especially by reducing bad forms of cholesterol and maintaining healthy levels of good cholesterol.

Two other highly touted benefits of chromium include weight loss and increased muscle mass. While there is sound theory behind both of these claims, the reality is that there is no firm evidence to suggest that chromium has any effect on either losing weight or "bulking up".

For those looking for foods which contain high levels of chromium, there is actually a surprisingly small amount of research in this area. However, of those foods tested, broccoli, common spices, green beans and whole grain products all have high levels of chromium.

More about chromium around the Web:

Around the Web, learn about the pros and cons surrounding the studies that suggest the effects of chromium - and chromium picolinate - on weight loss, blood sugar levels and other possible benefits, along with possible dangers and recommended intake...

Chromium, Linus Pauling Institute's Micronutrient Information Center - The role chromium plays in disease prevention with a discussion on Type 2 and gestational diabestes, together with information on chromium deficiency, food sources, recommended intake, drug and nutrient interactions and more.

Chromium - Arguments against the claims that chromium will help you lose weight, build muscle, or lower cholesterol, along with a jaded eye on most other recent studies pointing to its effects on blood sugar and diabetes, from the UC Berkley Wellness Guide.

Supplements A-Z: Chromium - Comprehensive description along with associated claims and theories, scientific research, safety issues and possible adverse effects, dosage recommendations, with related references.

Chromium - A complete description plus information on its benefits, how it works, indications and usage, drug interactions, dosage by life stage, dangers of overdose, and bibliography from PDRhealth.

Chromium Copper DRI/RDA - A discussion on chromium's interaction with copper and other minerals, along with addressing benefits, and claims made for chromium picolinate in reducing body fat.

The Merck Manual, Mineral Deficiency and Toxicity: Chromium - The trace mineral's effect in animal studies, the estimated requirement in humans, with more on the effects of both deficiency and overdose.