CHROMIUM & the bodys use

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taken from http://www.acu-cell.com/crcu.html

Chromium & Copper: These two elements are the most important

nutrients next to calcium and

magnesium for their anti-inflammatory properties. They share left /

right-sided cell receptors and are

considered essential to human health.

While neither one - with few exceptions - is generally found to be

very deficient level-wise, chromium

(Cr) is on average always lower than copper (Cu), with virtually no

exceptions. Copper, on the other

hand is elevated in the majority of patients, which creates a

chronic copper / chromium conflict ratio-

wise in these individuals.

In fact, of all the patients I have tested since the mid 70's,

nearly 90% exhibited a chemical profile that

in addition to their own unique chemistry contained an underlying

pattern reflecting the effects of high

copper on various opposing nutrients, which include chromium,

molybdenum, sulfur, nickel, Vitamin C

and hesperidin.

Although chromium appears to be normal on the following graph, it is

very low in ratio to copper, its

associated element, so when supplementing chromium, its level will

generally not increase at first, but

instead it will gradually lower copper, and in the example below,

potassium, since they are high in ratio

to chromium. Only after copper and potassium have been reduced to

normal levels, chromium may at

that point start to go up. However, since sufficient amounts of

chromium are rarely used, in practice,

copper and potassium just come down closer to normal, and chromium

levels stay the same.

Magnesium levels frequently go up following long-term

supplementation of chromium because of its

synergism with chromium, and also because of potassium (which is a

magnesium antagonist) going

down, and thus not exerting an inhibiting effect on magnesium any

longer:

There are other copper antagonists such as zinc, but while zinc is

generally documented as such in the

nutritional literature, it is not only the weakest of all copper

antagonists, but its action on copper takes

place only on an intestinal level, so once copper goes into storage,

zinc will have no effect on lowering

copper any longer, no matter how much is supplemented. The only

time zinc could become a threat to

copper is in situations where copper levels are already on the low

side, and massive amounts of zinc

in addition to other copper antagonists were consumed.

Many patients exhibit high levels of zinc and copper, in which case

a common denominator such as

ascorbic acid / Vitamin C has to be supplemented in larger amounts

to help lower both, while certain

foods such as nuts, shellfish or wheat germ... (containing high

levels of copper and zinc), should be

avoided. One major reason why some people require a much higher

intake of Vitamin C compared

to others is that they exhibit very high levels of copper, which in

these people happens to interfere with

nickel and Vitamin C metabolism. (see also Acu-Cell " Vitamin C

Supplementation " ).

Chromium occurs in any oxidation state from -2 to +6. Trivalent

chromium (Cr+3) is the biologically

active form, while hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) is potentially toxic

to the human body. GTF (Glucose

Tolerance Factor) chromium is essential in helping regulate

carbohydrate metabolism by improving

the uptake of glucose into the cells so it can be metabolized to

produce energy (ATP). It consists of

chromium in the trivalent state - nicotinic acid and the three amino

acids glycine, glutamic acid and

cysteine.

Chromium is able to improve cholesterol and triglyceride status,

however while small amounts are

necessary for normal carbohydrate metabolism and to help with blood

sugar management in diabetics,

supplementing higher amounts of chromium will not reverse Type II

diabetes, as some sources claim.

On a similar note, Chromium Picolinate (chromium + picolinic acid)

does not increase lean muscle

tissue and decrease body fat, as advertised by other sources. In

fact, in contrast to the control groups,

some of the participants in the chromium picolinate groups actually

gained weight, and one published

medical report stresses the implications of analogues of picolinic

acid being able to cause significant

behavioral changes in those with an increased susceptibility for

mood disorders. Chromium picolinate

is clearly the least desirable form to be used for supplementation.

Tissue concentrations of chromium vary considerably in people from

different parts of the world, with

amounts in people living in Asia for example being up to five times

higher compared to those in people

living in the United States. These higher chromium levels may be

one reason for a lower incidence of

diabetes or bone loss in these regions or countries. In addition,

excessive sugar intake - prevalent in

Western societies - increases chromium loss and accelerates

declining levels with increasing age,

which worsens medical conditions associated with lowered chromium

levels. There are also lower

soil levels of chromium in North America, and the refining process

of food (sugar cane, whole grains)

reduces sources of chromium as well. Exercise and trauma also

contribute to chromium loss, and it is

interesting to note that in laboratory animals, extra chromium

supplementation resulted in a life span

increase of up to 33%.

Absorption of various forms of chromium, including GTF is in a low 1-

3% range, with the absorption of

Chelated Chromium being usually closer to 25%, so chelated chromium

is the preferable choice for

specific medical applications. For instance, when chromium is used

for inflammatory conditions such

as an acute bladder infection (cystitis), taking 20,000 mcg of GTF

chromium has little or no effect at all

on improving the symptoms, while 2-3,000 mcg / day of chelated

chromium will rectify most cases of

cystitis, or it can be used to resolve chronic bladder infections by

having patients supplement a lower,

preventative maintenance amount.

Osteoporosis of trabecular bone (spine or end-part of bone) is

frequently caused by chromium being

abnormally low in ratio to either copper, potassium, selenium,

and/or rarely, vanadium. Chromium is

required for proper parathyroid functions, so any of these Cr

antagonists can become responsible for

bone loss if supplemented needlessly, or if their levels remain too

high too long for any other dietary

or genetic reason. However, one other major factor that is

responsible for bone loss as a result of its

chromium-lowering effect - particularly in Western Societies - and

which has been totally overlooked is

Sugar, and all other Simple Carbohydrate sources! (see also Acu-Cell

Disorders " Osteoporosis " ). ¤

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Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) is the latest term replacing daily

dietary reference values such as

Adequate Intake (AI), Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), Estimated

Average Requirements (EAR),

Nutrient Reference Value (NRV), and Recommended Dietary Allowance /

Intake (RDA / RDI).

Chromium:Copper:

DRI (RDA):DRI (RDA):

0-6 months10mcg - 40mcg0-6 months0.5mg - 0.7mg

6-12 months20mcg - 60mcg6-12 months0.7mg - 1mg

1-10 years30mcg -150mcg1-10 years1mg -2.5mg

11-18 years100mcg - 200mcg11-18 years2mg - 3mg

18 years +200mcg+18 years +3mg

pregnant / lactating+ 50mcg

Therapeutic Range:200mcg - 3,000mcg+Therapeutic Range:1mg - 5mg

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Cellular / Intracellular Attributes and Interactions:

Chromium Synergists:Copper Synergists:

Magnesium, zinc, Vitamin B15,Calcium, potassium, Vitamin E,

Chromium Antagonists / Inhibitors:Copper Antagonists / Inhibitors:

Selenium, vanadium, potassium, cobalt, copper,Sulfur, molybdenum,

zinc, nickel, Vit B6, Vit C,

iodine, Vitamin B12, rutin, sugar, alcohol, fat,chromium, tin,

hesperidin, insoluble fiber,

Low Levels / Deficiency - Symptoms and/or Risk Factors:

Chromium:Copper:

Reduced glucose tolerance / impaired glucoseAnemia, increased

susceptibility for infections,

metabolism, weakened immune system, increasedweakened immune system,

increased risk for

susceptibility for infections (bladder, left tonsil), cancer,

vascular degeneration, inflammatory

trabecular bone loss, inflammatory joint disease,joint disease,

trabecular bone loss, premature

low blood sugar, elevated cholesterol, birth defects,graying of

hair / loss of hair color, leukopenia

reduced life expectancy, nerve degeneration,(low WBC), hormonal

disorders, miscarriage,

[symptoms of excess copper],nerve degeneration, stroke,

High levels / Overdose / Toxicity / Negative Side Effects - Symptoms

and/or Risk Factors:

Chromium:Copper:

Spinal / joint degeneration, depressed immune's disease,

anemia, nausea, vomiting,

system, lymphatic swelling, abdominal pain, moodiness, depression,

ADD,

ADHD, confusion, violent behavior, arthritis,

Chromium Picolinate:joint / spinal degeneration, higher risk for some

Weight gain, behavioral disorders / psychoticcancers, increased

susceptibility for infections,

symptoms, headaches, insomnia, confusion,hemangioma, vascular

degeneration (varicose

depression, irritability, insomnia,veins, aneurysms, bruising,

hemorrhoids),

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Chromium Sources:Copper Sources:

Brewer's yeast, beef, liver, chicken, dairy products,Wheat germ,

oats, fish / shellfish, mushrooms,

eggs, potatoes, whole-grain products, fish / seafood,soybeans,

seeds, coffee, tea, cocoa products,

green peppers, bananas, beer, drinking water,liver, nuts, drinking

water (copper plumbing). ¤

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