2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Chromium is one of the vital trace elements for our body. It plays a key role in carbohydrate metabolism by participating in the creation of a compound called "glucose tolerance factor" or "GTF". GTF-related nutrients play an important role in blood sugar balance. The GTF includes: chrome (which may be the most active ingredient), nicotinic acid (a version of vitamin B3) and amino acids that make up glutathione (glutamic acid, cysteine and glycine).
Chrome functions
Controls blood sugar levels - as an active component of GTF, chromium plays a key role in controlling blood sugar. The main function of GTF is to increase the action of insulin. Insulin is a hormone responsible for transporting sugar (glucose) into cells, where it can be used to produce energy.
Metabolizes cholesterol and nucleic acid - chromium is involved in cholesterol metabolism, which suggests a role in maintaining normal blood cholesterol levels. In addition, chromium is a nucleic acid involved in metabolism. Nucleic acid is a building block of the DNA material in each cell.
Food processing methods remove most of the naturally occurring chromium in commonly consumed foods. Chromium deficiency leads to insulin resistance, a condition in which the body's cells do not respond to the presence of insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to elevated blood insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia) and elevated blood sugar levels, which can eventually cause heart disease and / or diabetes.
Chromium deficiency
In fact, even a small deficit of chrome is associated with a medical condition known as Syndrome X. Syndrome X is a constellation of symptoms, including hyperinsulinemia, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels, high blood sugar levels, and low cholesterol levels.
In people with diabetes or heart disease, the body needs larger amounts chrome. Additional quantities chrome are also required for physical injury, trauma and mental stress.
In turn, extra amounts of chromium can cause your blood sugar levels to drop. If you are taking insulin or oral glucose-lowering medicines, you should be careful about taking extra chromium, as your blood sugar levels may drop too much. Calcium carbonate, contained in calcium supplements and antacids, reduces the absorption of chromewhile aspirin increases it.
Diets high in sugar increase the excretion of chrome through urine. Diets rich in whole grains can also reduce the absorption of chromium. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in turn increases the absorption of chromium.
Chromium overdose
Be careful, because in very high doses chromium is converted into a toxic trace element. It can cause very severe poisoning, liver damage, chronic kidney failure. It is possible to get the severe condition rhabdomyolysis - rupture of part of the muscle cells and spillage of their contents into the blood.
Benefits of chromium
Chromium plays a role in the prevention and / or treatment of the following diseases: acne, glaucoma, high cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, hypoglycemia, obesity, psoriasis, type 2 diabetes and others.
Chromium side effects
When taken in normal doses, chromium is non-toxic. But it regulates glucose metabolism, which is why diabetics need to be very careful about it. If you have any problems with your blood sugar, it is best to consult a doctor before taking chromium.
Sources of chromium
Foods that are sources of chrome are lettuce, onions, tomatoes, brewer's yeast, oysters, liver, whole grains, bran, cereals and potatoes. Beer and wine can accumulate chromium during fermentation and are considered good food sources of the mineral. To the delight of many people, beer is also rich in chromium. Chromium is found in black pepper, thyme, meat and cheese.
In many cases, the applied food methods for processing different types of food lead to a reduction in the chromium content.
On the other hand, foods cooked in stainless steel cookware can accumulate chromium by extracting the mineral from kitchen utensils.
