Chromium

[Clairslloyd]

Hi, can anyone tell me if this is worth taking? Have read on a website that it is excellent for lowering blood sugar but am not sure if it is worth it (does also say can cause hypo - but I assume this is if your blood sugar is quite low to start with :? ). Has anyone taken it and if so what are the results (I do realise that this varies from person to person so am going to check with pharmacist too but would like other peoples opinions). Many thanks.

Clair x

 

[Patch]

Works for some, doesn't work for others.

Only one way to find out if it'll work for you.

 

[bowell]

Good sources of this mineral

Egg yolk
Brewer's yeast
Beef
Cheese
Liver
Wine
Bread, wholemeal, wheat
Black pepper
Rye bread
Chilli, fresh
Apple peel
Potatoes, old
Oysters

http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/info/books-phds/books/foodfacts/html/data/data5m.html


Why take more pills :?:

 

[Patch]

Why take more pills :?:

Brewer's yeast
Bread, wholemeal, wheat
Rye bread
Potatoes, old

That's why... :wink:

 

[bowell]

:?:
So whats wrong with Steak tartare then ? to polish up your chrome :mrgreen:

Egg yolk
Beef
Cheese
Liver
Wine
Black pepper
Chilli, fresh
Oysters
Margarine
Spirits
Butter
Spinach
Egg white

 

[donnellysdogs]

Hi

My husband and I have taken 2 chromium tablets a day for years.

My husband has been a little overweight for a good few years, and when I have tested him prior to chromium his levels were always 6-7, and I did not want him to get type 2. Anyway, I tested him this weekend, and his reading was 4.7....after eating. He is now making an attempt to lose the little bit of excess weight that he has.

I am type 1, and it has no effect on my levels at all, but I do believe that something in the supplements I take has stopped me from getting complications after 26 years, and I just have the start of mild background retinopathy in one eye.

I will not stop taking it, I also take magnesium and vit D as well as an over 50's vit tablet and high omega 3 and a garlic tablet and additional vit C tablets. I won't stop taking them, despite having a very healthy diet. I eat 4 fresh veg and various meats and fish and fruit each day with a yogurt and 3 plain ryvitas for lunch at the moment and also small amount of plain walnuts, cashew and Brazil nuts. I am 47. I think my last hba1c was 6.7, and though various times of my diabetes it has been a lot higher, but, I really believe that my vitamins have kept me from the diabetic complications.
I am also 'lean and mean' according to my GP with my weight and muscles. Most people think I weigh about 81/2 stone, but I actually weigh 10stone, I certainly can't say that the vits and supplements have kept me lean, because of my husband having extra weight-however, he works in a place with snack machines, and they are the cause of the excess he has.
Hubby has never had a days illness ever, I very, very rarely have colds or anything except my additional fibromyalgia.

 

[viviennem]

You've nearly convinced me, DD! I take pretty much what you do. What dose of chromium do you take?

Viv

 

[donnellysdogs]

Hi

We both take 2 x 200mcg a day.

I believe my vitamin supplements have kept me good diabetes wise, and I wouldn't stop taking them because I don't want to risk not being good. They haven't stopped my fibromyalgia though, but saying that without them I could have been worse. For hubby to be so healthy too, I just think that something has kept us both good and it certainly hasn't always been that I have had perfect control over my diabetes or eating, drinking and smoking habits.....I'm a lot different now, compared to my rebellious side that I took to for a while a few years after being diagnosed....

Not everybody believes in vitamin supplements I know. I also have a huge 25kg bag od epsom salts that I use to go in my bath water, 2 cups at a time, as an anaethetist who also had a huge interest in vitamins told me it was the best way to get magnesium in to my body. When the sack runs out I switch to magnesium tablets for a while before going back to having the salts in the bath. 25kg of bath salts are quite expensive compared to the tablets. Also in the bath, I was told just to soak for 20 minutes and not wash, so I felt it was a bit pointless of having a bath without being able to wash!!

Don't get convinced by me, as it is just my belief, and nothing really scientific besides hubbys bg levels really coming down so much...

 

[Clairslloyd]

Thanks to all who replied to my post. DD have just ordered enough for a year and will see how it goes. Checked with pharmacist who spouted a load of c*** about vitamins which doesnt sit well with me. I will take them and black cohosh as I have been told this is good for menopause (and pre) and will see how it goes (get horrid sweats). Thanks again

 

[cugila]

Clair
Before you rush into Chromium supplementation it is well to know that one of the drugs, Omeprazole which I believe you are on is mentioned in this link if you scroll down to Chromium and Medication interactions : This medication alters stomach acidity and may impair chromium absorption or enhance excretion.

Your Pharmacist might also just know a bit more about the interactions and contra-indications than most people you speak to........

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/chromium/

In any case Chromium is only required in the body in trace amounts.........

This was the conclusion........

Eating a variety of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, meats, and milk and milk products should provide sufficient chromium. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, "Nutrient needs should be met primarily through consuming foods. Foods provide an array of nutrients and other compounds that may have beneficial effects on health. In certain cases, fortified foods and dietary supplements may be useful sources of one or more nutrients that otherwise might be consumed in less than recommended amounts. However, dietary supplements, while recommended in some cases, cannot replace a healthful diet."

 

[sugarless sue]

Claire, be aware that at least two of your present prescibed drugs may react with Black Kohosh ! Ramipril and Simvastatin. Please check with Pharmacist about this, they do know what they are talking about !

 

[Sid Bonkers]

The trouble with supplements is there is no way of knowing if they are working or if they are snake oil. People say "I've taken such and such for years and never had xy or z", but who's to say they would have had xy or z if they'd not taken it

I remember a sales conference I attended once where the speaker recounted a quote from Henry Ford, he reputedly said ''50 per cent of my advertising works; I only wish I knew which 50 per cent it was'' :lol:

When a supplement is proven without doubt to have a beneficial effect then Ill spend my money on it until then I have better things to spend my 'hard earned' on thanks

 

[Patch]

The trouble with supplements is there is no way of knowing if they are working or if they are snake oil. People say "I've taken such and such for years and never had xy or z", but who's to say they would have had xy or z if they'd not taken it

This is true. people also say "I've taken statins for years and never had heart problems", but who's to say they would have had heart problems if they had not taken it?

It all boils down to whether or not you are willing to take full responsibility for your diabetes, and make informed decisions on what to pump into your body. Taking those drugs that your GP/specialist prescribes should be a part of this - but not the be all and end all.

The level of faith you have in your GP/specialist will have an impact on this. But for me, faith and medicine/science don't mix well.

 

[Clairslloyd]

Thank you all so much for all your replies. Sue I checked with the pharmacist first to make sure it is ok to take the black cohosh and was told that they are all ok but to keep an eye on my bod to make sure nothing is changing. Ken also checked for the interactions you suggest and they also said that it was ok. If any probs occur I will of course stop taking them. Thanks again all, really appreciate this site and all on it

 

[NotADoc]

Have worked with chromium through five decades (so far).

The right form of chromium in the right amount utilized the right way reduces abnormally high blood sugar levels while also raising up abnormally low blood sugar levels in non-medicated hypoglycemics.

90 days will result in high HB1AC being reduced and also high LDL reduction as well as low HDL increase. Longer use results in reduced triglyceride levels as well. Have seen this over and over and over again ad infinitum ad nauseum.

The truth on this matter is not known mostly because knowledge of this truth is not desired or sought by most whether in the medical or nutritional communities.

The right form of chromium is that which is incorporated through growth processes so that it is as found in food. The right amount is 100 micrograms at a time. The right way is separated out three times daily.

If one is insulin dependent then this regimen should be restricted and increased only slowly while measuring blood sugar levels carefully and reducing insulin intake as required.

The reason that the right form of chromium may result in low blood sugar levels is not because of the chromium. Chromium actually normalizes blood sugar levels. For instance I have never known a hypoglycemic that did not cease to be hypoglycemic when taking the right form of chromium in the right amount and the right way in less than one month -- usually much less than one month.

The problem is because chromium works with the body to reduce high bg levels through normal mechanisms and the drugs utilized do so through abnormal mechanisms. It is due to the drug abnormally lowering bg after chromium works as the body intends that there is a problem. That is why it is necessary to be much more careful with chromium when one is insulin dependent.

 

[bowell]

For Info

Black_cohosh

Adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, mastalgia, and weight gain have been observed in clinical trials. The estrogenic effects of black cohosh are controversial, and the more recent data indicate that black cohosh extracts may have an anti-estrogenic activity. Owing to potential effects on sex hormones, however, black cohosh should not be administered to children or during pregnancy and lactation.
- Nutr Clin Care 2002 Nov-Dec;5(6):283-9 -- Black cohosh: an alternative therapy for menopause? -- Mahady GB, Fabricant D, Chadwick LR, Dietz B.

Ref
http://www.personalhealthzone.com/herbal_medicine/side_effects/black_cohosh_side_effects.html



Chromium

There is evidence of hormonal effects of supplemental chromium besides the effect on insulin. Chromium supplementation does result in tissue retention, especially in the kidney.
- Altern Med Rev 2002 Jun;7(3):218-35 -- The safety and efficacy of high-dose chromium. -- Lamson DS, Plaza SM.

Chromium can have an effect on blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
- Cutis 2000 Feb;65(2):116 -- Systemic contact dermatitis caused by oral chromium picolinate. Fowler JF Jr.

The models predict that chromium can accumulate in human tissues to reach the levels at which DNA damage has been observed in animals and in vitro. The use of chromium supplements for extended periods or in excess dosages should be reevaluated in terms of these established models because the possible long-term biological effects of chromium accumulation in humans are poorly understood.
- FASEB J 1995 Dec;9(15):1650-7 -- A prediction of chromium(III) accumulation in humans from chromium dietary supplements. -- Stearns DM, Belbruno JJ, Wetterhahn KE.

Ref
http://www.personalhealthzone.com/vitamins_supplements/chromium_side_effects.html

 

[NotADoc]

Yep, that's why nobody should EVER use chromium picolinate but only 100% whole food chromium. There is a difference and your body knows the difference between chromium biologically formed (protein chaperones) and all the other forms that just pass for nutrients. Chromium picolinate is the most dangerous of the supplementary forms. Only hexavalent chromium that is only formed by man in processing chromium ore is more dangerous than chromium picolinate and it is not available for supplementation.

For instance, T2 diabetics have a much greater incidence of kidney disease. That is because the kidneys are one of the four organs in which chromium accumulates. That is, if you have enough chromium in your tissues for it to accumulate. Due to refined dietary habits very few have healthy chromium accumulations. However, if you use chromium picolinate it accumulates in the kidneys because it is toxic and can therefore be a problem taking up chromium receptor sites due to an absence of dietary chromium which is NOT toxic but rather healthy to the kidneys. T2 diabetics are grossly chromium deficient (the primary reason they are diabetic) so they are accumulating the wrong form of chromium in the absence of the correct (dietary) form.

Dietarily formed chromium is actually the least toxic of all minerals. It is the only food or food component that I know of that has no LD50 level. LD50 is the tested level that is a Lethal Dose for 50 per cent or greater of lab animals. When they got up to 10,000 micrograms daily in lab animals (an extraordinary amount) and still could not reach a lethal dose of 50 per cent they gave up, hence, the only substance I know without an LD50 level. The SAFEST of all nutrients IF in a dietary form.

 

[ClaireG 06]

As always, it is best to consult your HCP's before changing your diet or taking any supplements of any kind.

 

[Eilean13]

Here is a link to what I thought was quite a well balanced article, although I dont take Chromium myself http://www.diabetesaction.org/site/Page ... october_06

 

[Grazer]

Here is a link to what I thought was quite a well balanced article, although I dont take Chromium myself http://www.diabetesaction.org/site/Page ... october_06

Good link Eilean. Confusing thing is that this article kind of supports Chromium Picolinate, while earlier posts criticise that and say GDF? Chromium is best (I think!)
Also amazed at the doses. People are talking about 400 and 600 mcg doses or more,whereas other articles say the normal requirement is about 30! Am I getting confused here, or should we supplement with doses 10 or 20 times higher than normal on a regular basis?
These aren't veiled criticisms, I genuinely don't quite get it.