While studies of Chromium’s impact on type II diabetes are also mixed, the mix in this case follows a helpful pattern. It seems that looking at the meta-study data all of the positive effects were regional. People in India and China, who appear to have a chromium deficiency in their diet, accounted for all of the positive data; meanwhile a test of obese Europeans showed no helpful effects at all.
It’s pretty certain that if you have a chromium deficiency it may be aggravating your BG swings, but if you live in the U.S. or Europe you are very unlikely to have such a deficiency. It would be terrific if there was a test for chromium, but there is not.
Authors of the meta-study found on the ADA website do have another caveat, “the authors state that the results found in their study groups may not apply to other types of groups, such as lean people with type 2 diabetes”
Complications from short term low dosage use, per the NIH, include “weight gain, headache, insomnia, skin irritation, sleep problems, and mood changes.” While, “High doses can cause serious side effects. The foremost concern for persons with diabetes who use chromium is the development of kidney problems. Other possible effects include vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract, and worsening of any behavioral or psychiatric problems.”
Bottom line; despite being thin, and acknowledging that it can drop BG levels for Type 2’s who are not overweight or on insulin yet, it appears that my being on a western diet will already insure I have all the chromium I need and I don’t need the side effects. So I’m saying no to chromium.
It’s pretty certain that if you have a chromium deficiency it may be aggravating your BG swings, but if you live in the U.S. or Europe you are very unlikely to have such a deficiency. It would be terrific if there was a test for chromium, but there is not.
Authors of the meta-study found on the ADA website do have another caveat, “the authors state that the results found in their study groups may not apply to other types of groups, such as lean people with type 2 diabetes”
Complications from short term low dosage use, per the NIH, include “weight gain, headache, insomnia, skin irritation, sleep problems, and mood changes.” While, “High doses can cause serious side effects. The foremost concern for persons with diabetes who use chromium is the development of kidney problems. Other possible effects include vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract, and worsening of any behavioral or psychiatric problems.”
Bottom line; despite being thin, and acknowledging that it can drop BG levels for Type 2’s who are not overweight or on insulin yet, it appears that my being on a western diet will already insure I have all the chromium I need and I don’t need the side effects. So I’m saying no to chromium.
Update: Found some more detailed information from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Full details are here but their research, while still mixed, shows a bit more promise than I thought, especially for pre-diabetics. It shows an adequate intake chart, adult males under fifty need 35 mcg, females 25. Now if there was just a way to know how much we are getting in our diet...
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