Chromium Picolinate

Discover chromium picolinate, an essential trace element that supports your body in a variety of ways.

Although it is often overlooked in modern nutrition, the importance of chromium for the human body cannot be underestimated.

It not only plays an important role in macronutrient metabolism, but according to studies can also help regulate blood sugar levels.

In this text you will learn how chromium picolinate works, why it can be particularly recommended as a dietary supplement and what role it plays for your body.

Learn more about the benefits of this fascinating nutrient.

What is Chromium?

Chromium is an essential trace element that has particular importance specifically in carbohydrate metabolism.

In fact, no further concrete function as an essential trace element has been described for chromium outside of this role, which is why researchers have repeatedly questioned for years whether chromium is actually an essential trace element.

In any case, chromium as a dietary supplement has significant importance for carbohydrate and thus macronutrient metabolism, which will be explained in the following.

For decades, chromium has been considered a component of the so-called glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which is described as "active chromium form regulates blood sugar levels".

Researchers discovered this in people receiving parenteral nutrition who had developed chromium deficiency.

It is now believed that the active chromium form known as the glucose tolerance factor is probably the protein chromodulin.

It is a small protein, a so-called oligopeptide, consisting of only four different amino acids and showing extremely high affinity for chromium.

The effect of chromodulin is to dramatically amplify the insulin signal transmitted by the insulin receptor activated by insulin, which on one hand leads to less insulin being required, and on the other hand forces glucose uptake into cells.

This is consistent with the already described observations and further observations showing that chromodulin under certain conditions, for example with a very high sugar diet, is excreted more frequently via the urine.

Everything You Should Know About Chromium Deficiency

A chromium deficiency can therefore be caused by long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (without chromium) and has been documented in several case studies.

The resulting main symptoms of the deficiency in these cases were significantly impaired glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in connection with diabetes-like weight loss as well as neuropathy and encephalopathy, which could be reversed by chromium supplementation.

Subclinical chromium deficiency, on the other hand, is associated with insulin resistance.

This is supported by the fact that studies suggest that chromium concentration in diabetics is reduced compared to control subjects, chromium deficiency is common in insulin resistance (precursor to diabetes) and children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have a negative chromium balance. (1) (2) (3)

Furthermore, it has been found that chronic high-sugar diet increases chromium excretion in urine (4).

Conversely, however, this does not mean that chromium supplementation improves diabetes or insulin resistance if no chromium deficiency is present.

The Role of Chromium in Nutrition

Dr. Richard Anderson was a nutritionist for the Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture for a long time and for many decades was considered the most renowned chromium researcher who spent decades researching the role of chromium in glucose and fat metabolism and published many studies on chromium. As early as 1986, Dr. Anderson established that:

Chromium intake from food is considerably below the recommended safe and adequate intake in most people.

In the USA and other industrialised countries, chromium intake from food is only about half the recommended minimum intake of 50 micrograms.

There are no specific data on the exact intake in Germany.

Generally, however, it can be assumed that the degree of refinement of the diet directly correlates with chromium intake, so that highly refined diets, as are often consumed in Western countries, provide little chromium.

Chromium is found in low concentrations mainly in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, but also in meat, fish and dairy products.

Since the role of chromium in carbohydrate and thus macronutrient metabolism described here is also officially recognised, the following health claims have been approved by EFSA for chromium:

• Chromium contributes to normal macronutrient metabolism
• Chromium contributes to the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels

Buying Chromium Picolinate – What Should You Pay Attention To?

If you wish to buy chromium picolinate, there are several aspects to consider to ensure you get a high-quality product.

We at edubily have made it our mission to offer only the best quality, so our products meet the following criteria:

• Guaranteed purity: Our chromium picolinate meets the highest purity requirements. It is free from unnecessary additives such as colourings or preservatives.
  
  You receive a pure product that contains exclusively chromium picolinate and the filler rice flour, without any unwanted or unnecessary substances.
  
• Optimal bioavailability: We use chromium picolinate, which is known for its excellent absorption in the body.
  
  Compared to other chromium compounds such as chromium chloride or chromium sulphate, chromium picolinate offers better bioavailability, which means your body can utilise the benefits more effectively.
  
• Independent laboratory tests: Our chromium picolinate, like all our products, undergoes rigorous independent laboratory testing.
  
  These tests ensure that the product is free from heavy metals and other contaminants, which confirms its safety and quality.
  
• Clear dosing recommendations: We recommend taking one capsule daily with plenty of fluid.
  
  This simple dosing instruction provides convenient handling, as only one capsule is needed daily, making taking it remarkably straightforward.
  
• Allergen-free and vegan: Our chromium picolinate capsules are free from the most common allergens and completely vegan.
  
  The capsule shell consists of HPMC (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose), a plant-based polymer that is free from common allergens such as gluten, soya and nuts. This makes them an excellent choice for people with dietary restrictions or preferences.
  
• Trustworthy customer reviews: We enjoy the trust of our customers and are very proud of the feedback on our chromium picolinate capsules, which is confirmed by numerous positive ratings.
  
  This reflects the effectiveness and high user satisfaction of our products.

When Do You Have an Increased Chromium Requirement?

An increased need for chromium can occur under various circumstances, particularly in connection with dietary habits and certain health conditions.

People who regularly consume a high-sugar diet may have a higher chromium requirement.

As mentioned above, studies have shown that high sugar consumption increases chromium excretion in the urine, reducing chromium reserves in the body (4).

Additionally, it is known that people with blood sugar problems often have lower chromium levels.

Particularly in diabetics and people with insulin resistance, a precursor to diabetes, chromium deficiency is frequently detected.

This deficiency can adversely affect blood sugar levels and further reduce insulin sensitivity.

Similarly, it has been found that newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics often have a negative chromium balance.

Does Chromium Have Side Effects?

Chromium is generally safe as a dietary supplement when recommended doses are adhered to and rarely causes side effects.

The established amounts are designed to maximise the benefits of chromium without posing any risks.

As a rule, chromium is very well tolerated by most people. Overdoses are unlikely if dosing recommendations are followed.

Of course, it is always advisable to use dietary supplements according to instructions and to seek professional medical advice for specific health concerns.

What Should You Not Take With Chromium?

When taking chromium, there are some considerations regarding interaction with other nutrients that should be considered to optimise the effectiveness of both supplements.

In particular, simultaneous intake of chromium and iron is a topic that deserves attention.

Iron and chromium compete in the body for the same transport mechanism, the protein transferrin, which is responsible for transporting these metals in the blood.

Although studies have shown that this competition usually has only minimal effects on iron status, experts often recommend taking iron and chromium at staggered intervals to minimise any potential interference.

It is advisable to wait a few hours between taking iron and chromium supplements.

This ensures that both minerals can be absorbed optimally without impairing the effectiveness of the other.

In this way, you can enjoy the full benefits of both supplements without compromising bioavailability.

Chromium Picolinate From the PURE Range

Chromium is part of our PURE range. As a compound we use chromium picolinate, where chromium here is bound to picolinic acid.

Studies show that chromium picolinate is more effective than any other chromium compound. It has not yet been conclusively established why this is the case.

It is assumed that chromium picolinate shows the best bioavailability, but also the best bioactivity, because apparently picolinic acid itself has a beneficial effect on sugar metabolism.

References:

1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10445219/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4260284/
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22783884/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3713513/