48 What is chromium? Can taking a chromium supplement help me lose or maintain weight?
Description
This article is from the Diet FAQ, by Claudia McCreary cookignnewsletter@chef.net with numerous contributions by others.
48 What is chromium? Can taking a chromium supplement help me lose or maintain weight?
Chromium is a nutrient which plays a factor in maintaining blood glucose
(sugar) levels. Chromium occurs naturally in the diet, and is found in foods
such as brewer's yeast, whole grains, liver, and shellfish. Individuals
whose diets consist mainly of processed foods may not have an adequate
intake of chromium; symptoms of chromium deficiency include weight loss and
impairment in the body's ability to maintain blood sugar levels. Although
there is no recommended daily allowance for chromium, a daily intake of
between 50 and 200 micrograms (µg) is recommended by many physicians and
nutrition experts. Chromium is available in several forms, including
inorganic chromium, high-chromium yeast, chromium picolinate, and chromium
polynicotinate. Of these, chromium polynicotinate seems to be the best
absorbed. While chromium does seem to be of benefit in regulating blood
sugar in diabetics, its role in weight loss or maintenance for non-diabetics
is not yet clear. Some individuals who have made a conscious effort to raise
their chromium levels through diet changes or dietary supplements have
reported that chromium does seem to lessen their cravings for sweets, but I
am unaware of any formal studies that support this. Additional information
on chromium picolinate is available via WWW at
http://www.lifelines.com/libry1a.html.
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