Chromium deficiency
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| Chromium | |
| ICD-10 | E61.4 |
| DiseasesDB | 2625 |
Chromium deficiency is a disorder that results from an insufficient dietary intake of chromium. It occurs rarely in developed nations.
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[edit] Use of chromium in the body
Trivalent chromium is an essential trace metal and is required for the proper metabolism of sugar in humans. Trivalent chromium has been found to be the key constituent in Glucose Tolerance Factor. Glucose tolerance factor (GTF) is a metal-protein complex that is formed when the oligopeptide chromodulin, which consists of the four amino acid residues aspartate, cysteine, glutamate, and glycine, is bonded with four chromic trivalent (Cr3+) ions in a tetranuclear orientation. Recent studies have suggested that this metal-protein complex plays an important role in insulin receptor activity by enhancing the efficiency of insulin. In contrast, hexavalent chromium is very toxic and mutagenic.
Recently it was shown that the popular dietary supplement chromium picolinate generates chromosome damage in hamster cells. In the United States, the dietary guidelines for adequate daily chromium intake were lowered from 50-200 µg for an adult to 30- 35 µg (adult male) and to 20-25 µg (adult female).[1]
The actual percent of chromium absorbed from the intestinal tract after ingestion is very low, around 2%, with the remainder being excreted in the feces. It has been found that vitamin C and niacin may enhance the uptake of chromium from the intestinal tract. After absorption, this trace mineral is stored in the liver, bone, and spleen for later use in the body.
The amount of chromium in the body can be decreased as a result of the person having a diet high in simple sugars, if an infection present in the body, if the person is pregnant or lactating, and/or if the person is partaking in acute exercise. The body excretes the specified amount of chromium out of the body through the process of urination.
[edit] Treatment
Chromium picolinate is the most commonly used synthetic supplement to correct imbalances in glucose metabolism due to chromium deficency. This complex enters the cells in the body through a different mechanism compared to how trivalent chromium found naturally in food does and for this reason the safety or this supplement is debatable. For chromium to be used in the cells it must be released from chromium picolinate, in a process in which there is a reduction in the chromic center. This process can possibly lead to the formation unsafe hydroxyl radicals. Although it has been debated whether or not supplementation should be given regularly, studies have shown that chromium picolinate may be effective when given to patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), and as a result it is added regularly to TPN solutions.
Trivalent chromium is found in a wide range of foods including: egg yolks, whole-grain products, high-bran breakfast cereals, coffee, nuts, green beans, broccoli, meat, brewer’s yeast, and some brands of wine and beer.
[edit] References
- ^ John B. Vincent (2004). Recent advances in the nutritional biochemistry of trivalent chromium. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 63, 41 - 47.
John B. Vincent. (2000). The Biochemistry of Chromium. The Journal of Nutrition,130: 715- 718.
William T. Cefalu and Frank B. Hu. (2004). Role of Chromium in Human Health and in Diabetes. Diabetes Care,27:2741-2751.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/chromium.asp
[edit] External links
Malnutrition (Kwashiorkor - Marasmus)
other underconsumption- vitamin Vitamin A deficiency (Bitot's spots), Beriberi, Wernicke's encephalopathy, Pellagra, Ariboflavinosis, Scurvy, Osteomalacia
mineral Iron deficiency, Magnesium deficiency - Chromium deficiency
hyperalimentation (Obesity, Hypervitaminosis A, Hypervitaminosis D)
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