Chromium and Diabetes

The benefits of Chromium have been debated for years. Many American diets are low in this mineral, though most people do not suffer from a definciency in obvious ways.  However, some studies have demonstrated that adequate amounts of chromium can help maintain normal blood sugar. If you are concerned about your blood glucose levels, improving the amount of chromium in your diet either through food or excercise, is certainly an inexpensive step you can take.

Some History of the Chromium and Diabetes Debate.

From the University of Maryland Medical CenterChromium is an essential mineral found in very low concentrations in the human body. In 1957, researchers discovered that a compound extracted from pork kidney called “glucose tolerance factor (GTF)” helped diabetic rats use insulin more efficiently. (People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin—a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life—or cannot properly use the insulin that their bodies produce. As a result, glucose or sugar builds up in the bloodstream.) Chromium was later identified as the active component of GTF. Today, it is believed that chromium helps insulin bring glucose from the blood into the cells for energy.

As many as 90% of American diets are low in chromium, but few people are deficient in this important mineral. The elderly, people who indulge in strenuous exercise, those who consume excessive amounts of sugary foods, and pregnant women are most likely to be deficient in chromium. Low chromium levels can increase blood sugar, triglycerides (a type of fat) and cholesterol levels and increase the risk for a number of conditions, including diabetes and heart disease