Chromium Supplements

About Chromium Supplements

Chromium is an essential mineral for human health, just like magnesium and zinc. Discovered in 1957 in Brewer's yeast, chromium is now widely prescribed for the management of type II diabetes, metabolic syndrome, to improve insulin sensitivity, reduce sugar cravings, improve body composition and even reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Perhaps the most potent biological effect of chromium is on insulin signalling for the management of insulin resistance or prediabetes. This condition occurs when insulin begins to lose its effects at a cellular level, resulting in less GLUT-4 translocation to the cell membrane which allows glucose to enter the cell and lowers the sugar content of the blood. In the short term, this leads to increased insulin synthesis and release by the Beta cells of the pancreas in an attempt to manage increasing blood glucose (sugar) levels. This creates a vicious cycle which can eventually lead to pancreatic and/or cellular exhaustion and type II diabetes.

Chromium may also assist with triglyceride management, as reported in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics in 2006. The Western Journal of Medicine reported in 1993 that compared to placebo, chromium picolinate was effective at reducing blood lipids. Specifically, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein-B decreased with supplementation. Given this, chromium supplementation may assist with the management of blood lipids and insulin resistance, indicating potential cardiovascular benefits.

A large body of anecdotal evidence indicates chromium may assist in alleviating sugar cravings, helping to keep the sweet tooth at bay. This may be helpful when dieting or overconsuming carbohydrate foods, improving body composition by increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing the glycemic burden by reducing intake.