Chromium GTF

A strange title for an article about one of the known nutrients, right? But what can you do if you meet sometimes even such opinion about the use of chromium supplements: "Better to be fat, but alive"? Well, I can only wish the author of this statement to stay longer thick, because it is easier than a well spread out the brain (this, as we know, even Mark Twain could have done with difficulty). But for the "quick mind Nevtons", preferring to be alive and healthy, I decided to write a review about chromium, with a persuasive, I think, a discrediting of the myth of its harm to health (in the last section of the article.)

In 1957, the scientists Walter Mertz and Kenneth Schwartz have found in pig kidney substance, which was called "glucose tolerance factor (GTF)". This substance, derived from pigs, restored the decreased sensitivity to glucose in rats. Two years later, in 1959, chromium was identified as the active component of GTF. Despite this, the American textbook of 1968, which published the recommended daily consumption of nutrients RDA, contains only the following comment: "The research points to the positive role of chromium in the human body"

Much later, just in textbook published in 1989, which speaks about the RDA, 3 pages were given chromium. Briefly: "Chromium is a trace element necessary for the proper metabolism of glucose, insulin, fatty acids and proteins, as well as muscle growth. Its enough consumption, proper absorption and assimilation are need for regulation of blood glucose level and normal sensitivity of insulin receptors."

Currently, chromium deemed necessary component of food for the life, which is difficult to obtain from food in the required quantity, since 90% of chromium is lost during the processing and storage of products. Its deficiency is most common in the so-called "successful" social structures. The lack of chromium is inevitable if consume a large amount of flour and confectionery products and other foods rich in easily digestible carbohydrates.

It is believed that the average consumption of chromium is only 25-33 micrograms per day. This is due, inter alia, such factors as soil depletion, refining products and high daily intake of sugar (excess sugar in the diet calls for too much insulin, which is even more reducing stocks of chromium). The content of chromium in the tissues is also reduced with age, as well as great physical exertion. Due to the excessive cleaning products during processing, unhealthy eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles shortage of chromium is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies that likely leads to a disease of civilization, like hypertension, obesity and diabetes.

For this reason, chromium supplements should be taken to maintain health. Until now, however, there is no officially established RDA for chromium. Recent publications, the RDA value estimated from 50 to 200 micrograms of chromium per day.

Chromium occurs in nature in the trivalent form, and in the same form it is contained in food. This means that it is +3-th stage of oxidation, ie, trivalent chromium is an atom of chromium, which has lost three electrons and, accordingly, has acquired an electric charge of +3. Trivalent chromium, which is contained in food, is non-toxic even at doses 1000 times higher than the recommended daily dose. Highly toxic and well-known carcinogen is hexavalent chromium, and also chromium trioxide. But this chemical form of chromium was created artificially and not found in nature.

All supplements with the addition of chromium contain trivalent chromium in the various chemical forms. In brewer's yeast and chromium chloride, there are different kinds of chelated compounds: chromium polynicotinate, chromium gluconate, citrate and most famous chromium picolinate. Chromium picolinate is not just a molecule, this is a complex, called chelate, in which three molecules of picolinic acid surrounded chromium ion. The results of epidemiological and clinical studies confirm that all chromium chelate compounds are non-toxic and safe.

Location and mechanism of absorption of chromium in the human intestine is not clearly established, but it seems that it is not due to the usual process of diffusion. Inorganic salts of trivalent chromium absorbed poorly (0,5-2%). It was shown that chromium chloride taken orally is absorbed less than 1%, although in the case of insulin-dependent diabetes, absorption of chromium increases from 2 to 4 times. Chromates are absorbed better. It was also found that chromium from yeast extract digested by about 10-25%.

Studies of absorption different forms of chromium, conducted in Ohio (USA), showed that chromium picolinate is best absorbed in the body. In these experiments, the assimilation of chromium picolinate was about 40%.

The physiological role of chromium in the body is mainly related to glucose metabolism. In the U.S., simply adding 150 mcg of trivalent chromium to the daily diet could improve glucose tolerance in adults with diabetes, as an average, and in the elderly. Numerous clinical studies confirmed increased action of insulin, caused by additions of chromium from brewers yeast.

Chromium itself does not stimulate glucose metabolism. Biological activity of chromium is associated with the organic complex known as glucose tolerance factor (GTF). Although the structure of GTF has not yet fully established, it is known that this is a complex organic molecule, which consists of chromium, nicotinic acid (vitamin B3) and amino acids that make up glutathione.

IThe biologically active form of chromium effectively regulates blood glucose levels, as increases the effects of insulin in the body. Chromium allows insulin to join the receptors of muscle and fat cells, and therefore glucose is able to penetrate the cell (glucose tolerance). Lack of this microelement in the body leads to abnormalities in glucose tolerance and increased blood sugar levels.

In the past fifteen years, chromium became very popular in the treatment of obesity. Its effectiveness in the regulation of body weight is associated with the ability to regulate blood glucose levels, thereby reducing sugar cravings. When deficits (and sometimes even the complete absence!) chromium in the body, there is also a high level of cholesterol in the blood, as well as hypertensive changes in blood vessels.

Is not surprisingly, that chromium is a valuable trace mineral that helps in the treatment of diabetes (such as insulin and insulin-independent), elevated blood cholesterol, and hypertension. Receiving of chromium supplements is very useful, but if we want to constantly be healthy, it is equally important to get rid of the wrong food habits.

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