Chromium Picolinate:

I found this recently

Mutat Res. 2006 Nov 7;610(1-2):101-13. Epub 2006 Aug 2.

    Nutritional supplement chromium picolinate generates chromosomal aberrations and impedes progeny development in Drosophila melanogaster.

        * Stallings DM,
        * Hepburn DD,
        * Hannah M,
        * Vincent JB,
        * O'Donnell J.

    Department of Chemistry, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0336, USA.

    Chromium picolinate, [Cr(pic)(3)], is a popular nutritional supplement found in a variety of consumer products. Despite its popularity, safety concerns over its use have arisen. The supplement has been shown to generate clastogenic damage, mitochondrial damage, oxidative damage, and mutagenic effects in cultured cells and oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in rats. Recently [Cr(pic)(3)] has been demonstrated to generate heritable genetic change and delays in progeny development in Drosophila melanogaster. Based on the damage to chromosomes of cultured cells and of animal models, similar chromosome damage appeared to be a likely source of the mutagenic effects of the supplement in Drosophila. The current three-part study examines the effects of several chromium-containing supplements and their components on hatching and eclosion rates and success of development of first generation progeny of adult Drosophila fed food containing these compounds. It further examines the effects of the compounds on longevity of virgin male and female adults. Finally, the chromosomes in the salivary glands of Drosophila late in the third instar larval stage, which were the progeny of Drosophila whose diets were supplemented with nutritional levels of [Cr(pic)(3)], are shown to contain on average over one chromosomal aberration per two identifiable chromosomal arms. No aberrations were observed in chromosomes of progeny of untreated flies. The results suggest that human consumption of the supplement should be a matter of concern and continued investigation to provide insight into the requirements of chromium-containing supplements to give rise to genotoxic effects.

    PMID: 16887379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

with strong conclusing remarks from the full paper

The current studies show unequivocally for the first time that [Cr(pic)3] supplementation at levels equivalent to human dietary supplementation causes deleterious effects at a molecular level in a whole animal that is widely accepted as a model for the study of human disease. The results report here report long term consequences for adults consuming [Cr(pic)3] at supplement levels. Moreover, a possibility exists for heritable deleterious effects, which could be of concern for adults in their reproductive years.

further research brings up

Mutat Res. 2006 Nov 7;610(1-2):114-23. Epub 2006 Jul 31.

    Molecular analysis of hprt mutations induced by chromium picolinate in CHO AA8 cells.

        * Coryell VH,
        * Stearns DM.

    Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Northern Arizona University, PO Box 5698, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5698, United States.

    Chromium picolinate (CrPic) is a popular dietary supplement, marketed to the public for weight loss, bodybuilding, and control of blood sugar. Recommendations for long-term use at high dosages have led to questions regarding its safety. Previous studies have reported that CrPic can cause chromosomal aberrations and mutations. The purpose of the current work was to compare the mutagenicity of CrPic as a suspension in acetone versus a solution in DMSO, and to characterize the hprt mutations induced by CrPic in CHO AA8 cells. Treatments of 2% acetone or 2% DMSO alone produced no significant increase in 6-thioguanine (6-TG)-resistant mutants after 48 h exposures. Mutants resistant to 6-TG were generated by exposing cells for 48 h to 80 microg/cm(2) CrPic in acetone or to 1.0mM CrPic in DMSO. CrPic in acetone produced an average induced mutation frequency (MF) of 56 per 10(6) surviving cells relative to acetone solvent. CrPic in acetone was 3.5-fold more mutagenic than CrPic in DMSO, which produced an MF of 16.2. Characterization of 61 total mutations in 48 mutants generated from exposure to CrPic in acetone showed that base substitutions comprised 33% of the mutations, with transversions being predominant; deletions made up 62% of the mutations, with one-exon deletions predominating; and 1-4 bp insertions made up 5% of the characterized mutations. CrPic induced a statistically greater number of deletions and a statistically smaller number of base substitutions than have been measured in spontaneously generated mutants. These data confirm previous studies showing that CrPic is mutagenic, and support the contention that further study is needed to verify the safety of CrPic for human consumption.

    PMID: 16877033 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

and

Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol. 2006 Jun;77(3):244-9.

    Exposure of pregnant mice to chromium picolinate results in skeletal defects in their offspring.

        * Bailey MM,
        * Boohaker JG,
        * Sawyer RD,
        * Behling JE,
        * Rasco JF,
        * Jernigan JJ,
        * Hood RD,
        * Vincent JB.

    Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, USA.

    BACKGROUND: Chromium(III) picolinate, [Cr(pic)(3)], is a widely marketed dietary supplement. However, Cr(pic)(3) has been associated with oxidative damage to DNA in rats and mutations and DNA fragmentation in cell cultures. In isolated case reports, Cr(pic)(3) supplementation has been said to cause adverse effects, such as anemia, renal failure, liver dysfunction, and neuronal impairment. To date, no studies have been published regarding the safety of chromium picolinate supplementation to a developing fetus, although Cr(pic)(3) has been recommended for pregnant women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. METHODS: From gestation days (GD) 6-17, pregnant CD-1 mice were fed diets containing either 200 mg/kg Cr(pic)(3), 200 mg/kg CrCl(3), 174 mg/kg picolinic acid, or the diet only to determine if Cr(pic)(3), CrCl(3), or picolinic acid could cause developmental toxicity. Dams were sacrificed on GD 17, and their litters were examined for adverse effects. RESULTS: The incidence of bifurcated cervical arches was significantly increased in fetuses from the Cr(pic)(3) group as compared to the diet-only group. Fetuses in the picolinic acid-treated group had an incidence double that of the control group; however, this increase was not statistically significant. Fetuses in the CrCl(3) group did not differ from the controls in any variable examined. No maternal toxicity was observed in any of the treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: High maternal oral exposures to chromium picolinate can cause morphological defects in developing offspring of mice.

    PMID: 16767758 [PubMed - in process]

and arguing against

Mutat Res. 2005 Nov 10;587(1-2):140-6. Epub 2005 Oct 10.

    Chromium picolinate does not produce chromosome damage in CHO cells.

        * Gudi R,
        * Slesinski RS,
        * Clarke JJ,
        * San RH.

    BioReliance Corporation, 14920 Broschart Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.

    Chromium picolinate (CrPic, Chromax) is a dietary supplement that has been commercially available for the past two decades. CrPic has potential benefits for reducing insulin dependence in diabetics by increasing sensitivity of insulin receptors and in stimulating insulin binding. In this study, CrPic was tested for its ability to produce chromosomal aberrations in vitro using Chinese hamster ovary K1 (CHO) cells. CHO cells were exposed to a range of cytotoxic to non-cytotoxic concentrations of CrPic for 4 or 20h in the absence of metabolic (S9) activation or for 4h in the presence of S9 activation. CrPic was solubilized with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to attain the highest possible solubility for maximizing the test doses. Cells were treated with 96.25, 192.5, 385 or 770 microg/mL of CrPic for 4 h in the presence of S9 activation, and for 4 or 20 h in the absence of S9 activation. A distinct precipitate of CrPic was evident in the cell culture medium at 770 microg/mL, which was the highest dose tested. Results showed no statistically significant increases in structural or numerical chromosome aberrations were produced at any test dose level with CrPic in 4-h treatments up to a precipitating dose of 770 microg/mL in either the presence or absence of S9 activation. Additionally no aberrations were observed up to 385 microg/mL (the maximum analyzable dose) following treatment for 20 h in the absence of S9 activation. The percentage of cells with structural or numerical aberrations in CrPic treated cultures was not statistically different (p>0.05) from that quantified in controls at any dose level. The absence of significant differences from control levels demonstrates that CrPic did not induce structural or numerical chromosome aberrations up to doses that were insoluble in the culture medium.

    PMID: 16216543 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

plus

Mutat Res. 2005 Aug 1;585(1-2):86-95.

    Lack of mutagenicity of chromium picolinate in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene mutation assay in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

        * Slesinski RS,
        * Clarke JJ,
        * San RH,
        * Gudi R.

    ENVIRON Health Sciences Institute, 4350 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203, USA. rslesinski@environcorp.com

    Chromium picolinate (CrPic, Chromax) is a dietary supplement that is stable and more bioavailable than other commercially available forms of chromium. Chromium supplementation is known to enhance the action of insulin, particularly in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A previous study reported that CrPic produced increases in mutations of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (Hprt) gene in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell mutation tests. This study, however, evaluated CrPic produced by the testing laboratory and used an atypical 48 h exposure period for this test system. The current study evaluated the mutagenic potential of the most widely utilized commercial form of CrPic in CHO/Hprt mutation tests following International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Guidelines (+/-S9 metabolic activation with a 5h exposure) in addition to repeating the test with a 48 h exposure period -S9 activation. CrPic was suspended in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) up to a concentration of 50 mg/mL; exposures were conducted under conditions in which precipitate was not evident and under conditions in which some precipitate of CrPic was visually evident in the cell culture medium at the highest concentrations (500 microg/mL). The concentrations evaluated for mutagenicity ranged from 15.6 to 500 microg/mL (+S9 and -S9) for the 5 h exposure and 31.3-500 microg/mL for the 48 h exposure (-S9). Only a slight degree of cytotoxicity was seen in the standard tests up to the limit of solubility in the medium. Toxicity, i.e., cloning efficiency < or =50% of the solvent control, but no mutagenic increases were observed at 500 microg/mL following a 48 h exposure period. The results of these studies showed that CrPic was non-mutagenic in two independent CHO/Hprt assays and in an assay using a 48 h exposure period.

    PMID: 15886052 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

and earlier studies

Straube R, Gackler D, Thiele A, Muselmann L, Kingreen H, Klingel R. 
Membrane differential filtration is safe and effective for the long-term treatment of Refsum syndrome--an update of treatment modalities and pathophysiological cognition.
Transfus Apher Sci. 2003 Aug;29(1):85-91.
PMID: 12877898 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Hepburn DD, Xiao J, Bindom S, Vincent JB, O'Donnell J.
Nutritional supplement chromium picolinate causes sterility and lethal mutations in Drosophila melanogaster.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Apr 1;100(7):3766-71. Epub 2003 Mar 20. Erratum in: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 Nov 25;100(24):14511.
PMID: 12649323 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Stearns DM, Silveira SM, Wolf KK, Luke AM. 
Chromium(III) tris(picolinate) is mutagenic at the hypoxanthine (guanine) phosphoribosyltransferase locus in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
Mutat Res. 2002 Jan 15;513(1-2):135-42.
PMID: 11719098 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Stearns DM, Wise JP Sr, Patierno SR, Wetterhahn KE. 
Chromium(III) picolinate produces chromosome damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
FASEB J. 1995 Dec;9(15):1643-8.
PMID: 8529845 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

so what are the options??

Some companies still sell chromium picolinate. If the label on the side of your supplement reads chromium picolinate then I would consider the above as a warning.

a quote from the first paper I mentioned

Cr picolinate, previously shown to be mutagenic in Drosophila [20], was found to lead to developmental delays and decreases in success rates of hatching and eclosion. This was found independent of whether the compound was prepared in this laboratory or by Nutrition 21. In contrast, [Cr3O(propionate)6(H2O)3]+, “chromium nicotinate” [Cr(nic)2(OH)(H2O)3]n, nicotinic acid, and propionic acid at equivalent levels had little or no effect on development; thus, nicotinic acid, propionic acid, and their chromium complexes are not anticipated to be mutagenic in Drosophila. Similarly, chromium chloride (CrCl3·6H2O) had no deleterious effects on Drosophila development in a previous study [20]. The results parallel those of Sugden et al., who analyzed the effects of a series of chromium compounds in the Salmonella reversion assay [18]; only chromium compounds with imine ligands were found to be mutagenic. The effects of the imine ligands were postulated to arise from shifts in the redox potential of the chromic centers [18]. Of the complexes examined in this study, only [Cr(pic)3] and [Cr(bpy)3]3+ possess imine ligands coordinated to their Cr(III) centers. Both chromium picolinate and picolinic acid (or metal picolinate complexes generated during autoclaving), but not Cr3 nor chromium nicotinate (nor their ligands), have detrimental effects on longevity of male and female Drosophila at nutrition supplement levels in addition to affecting embryonic and juvenile development.

so it's not all bad news. Alot of companies sell chromium in the the polynicotinate form. This my friends is the safe smarter bet it appears

LEF's Chromium Ultra, the one I use, is of the polynicotinate form.
http://www.lef.org/n.../item00671.html

Also, I just threw out two bottles of A.O.R.'s Ortho-Glucose, which contains the bad chromium.

LEF wins this round.

Click HERE to rent this advertising spot for SUPPLEMENTS (in thread) to support LongeCity (this will replace the google ad above).

Michael (as AORSupport) commented on this issue earlier, I believe.

Here is the FSA's risk assessment of chromium (along with all the other vitamins and minerals), page 172 for chromium...

http://www.foodstand.../vitmin2003.pdf

LEF's Chromium Ultra, the one I use, is of the polynicotinate form.
http://www.lef.org/n.../item00671.html

Also, I just threw out two bottles of A.O.R.'s Ortho-Glucose, which contains the bad chromium.

LEF wins this round.

LEF chromium failed consumer labs test a while back for some sort of toxic form of chromium being present

Dukenukem,

I was going to quote LEF and a few other brands that use polynicotinate but didn't want it to appear as though I might be pushing one brand compared to the next. I just wanted to present the research.

Thanks for the heads up Zoo!

Anyone quitting Ortho*Core because of this?

Edited by liplex, 08 January 2007 - 03:17 PM.

Anyone quitting Ortho*Core because of this?

Hell no!!

LEF's Chromium Ultra, the one I use, is of the polynicotinate form.
http://www.lef.org/n.../item00671.html

Also, I just threw out two bottles of A.O.R.'s Ortho-Glucose, which contains the bad chromium.

LEF wins this round.

LEF chromium failed consumer labs test a while back for some sort of toxic form of chromium being present

I doubt it, you must be thinking of LIFE-ENHANCEMENT

Here's an interesting view on the topic from Steven B. Harris

I once fed chromium picolinate (which is better absorbed than most
forms of Cr+3) to mice in a concentration of 1 part per thousand
chromium in the dry diet (which is about 8 parts per thousand
Cr-picolinate) for years, until they died of old age.  It didn't do a
thing to them.  Good or bad.  Which is why I haven't published the
experiment yet.  But that experiment did do its part to convince me the
stuff is pretty benign.  One part per thousand in the diet is about 750
mg Cr+3 a day for a human.  When 0.2 mg = 200 mcg Cr is the standard
supplement dose.  That's a factor of 3750, and still no sign of
toxicity.  Most impressive for a mineral.  I really don't know of any
other mineral, in fact, with as wide a nutrient dose--toxicity dose
range.

from here
Note that the first paper Zoo posted used Drosophila melanogaster, a two-winged insect, whereas Harris used mice.

I just threw out two bottles of A.O.R.'s Ortho-Glucose, which contains the bad chromium.

What a fantabulous waste of supplements.

Are we sure that the polynicotinate form is safer or is it just that it can't be worse?

I found this recently [studies in fruit flies and Chinese hamster ovary cells apparently showing chromium picolinate to be uniquely toxic, nearly all written by investigators with vested interests in either chromium polynicotinate or "low-molecular-weight chromium-binding substance (LMWCr)"].

Remember that the Forums have an archive search function . Chromium picolinate is demonstrably safe and effective in vivo in mammals , which cannot be said of polynicotinate and is as yet not yet shown in humans for LMWCr.

Note that even the Chinese hamster ovary data doesn't uniformly show toxicity (see Zoolander's original references) and the birth defect study below (1) used 200mg/kg -- and even at this absurd dose, while there was some damage to the fetuses, "No maternal toxicity was observed in any of the treatment groups."

No, this will not mark my return to activity on the Forums .

To your health!

AOR

1. Birth Defects Res B Dev Reprod Toxicol. 2006 Jun;77(3):244-9.
Exposure of pregnant mice to chromium picolinate results in skeletal defects in their offspring.
* Bailey MM, Boohaker JG, Sawyer RD, Behling JE, Rasco JF, Jernigan JJ, Hood RD, Vincent JB.
... From gestation days (GD) 6-17, pregnant CD-1 mice were fed diets containing either 200 mg/kg Cr(pic)(3), 200 mg/kg CrCl(3), 174 mg/kg picolinic acid, or the diet ... No maternal toxicity was observed in any of the treatment groups.

PMID: 16767758 [PubMed - in process]

Two weeks ago, I was frustrated with my blood glucose reading, and upped to 800 mcg of chromium picolinate. It worked, brought my blood glucose down a bit. But then I read the PDR Health adverse reactions. Trouble has been reported, so I decided to drop chromium picolinate altogether.

PDR Health

ADVERSE REACTIONS

Chromium supplements are generally well tolerated. There are a few reports of adverse reactions particularly with use of chromium picolinate. There is one report of a 24-year-old body builder who developed rhadomyolysis after ingesting 1,200 micrograms of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate. Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis was reported to be associated with the use of chromium picolinate. A case of interstitial nephritis was reported to occur five months after a subject received a six-week course of 600 micrograms of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate daily. Another report described anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, liver dysfunction, renal failure and weight loss after the use of 1,200-2,400 micrograms of chromium picolinate daily for four to five months.

Two weeks ago, I was frustrated with my blood glucose reading, and upped to 800 mcg of chromium picolinate.  It worked, brought my blood glucose down a bit.  But then I read the PDR Health adverse reactions.  Trouble has been reported, so I decided to drop chromium picolinate altogether.

This kind of thinking makes me laugh and cry for the hippies in the world. I wonder how the thought process goes...

Hey, you know, this stuff is actually working. It's lessening a personal health hazard that could lead to trouble in the future.
Oh know, big fat diabetic Timmy in Omaha had some side effects that he blamed on the chromium.
Better stop taking it. Better to be safe with my high blood glucose.

I'm not picking on you too hard, since there are several other alternatives to lowering BG and high dose chromium (regardless of the form) isn't the first choice I'd make anyway.

shepherd,

You didn't give me very much to go on. I am trying to figure this out.

What exactly is wrong with using adverse advents from PDR? I know they are not final scientific proof. Adverse events are serious steps in the process of determining safety. Adverse event reports are vetted medical reports by the subject, his doctor, and others. Why should I not use them? Definitely not Timmy in Omaha posting on the internet how he got really sick taking chromium picolinate. Accepting Timmy's post is "hippie" thinking. Accepting PDR adverse event reports is not "hippie" thinking.

Maybe you know something about PDR Health that I do not know. I didn't find a bias against supplements by PDR Health. Almost all of the supplement reports I have read found no significant problems. PDR Health appears to be a serious attempt to report the advantages and disadvantages of supplements. One thing PDR doesn't have, that most supplement information has, is an interest selling me supplements. The vendor selling me chromium picolinate thought 800 mcgs/day was reasonable thing. But it is me, taking the risk, not him, so what is wrong with being cautious?

As you mentioned, there are other ways to reach my goal, perhaps more cinnamon, perhaps HIT aerobics, or if I can find nothing else, glucophage. My glucose was 103 and went down to 98. A gain, but not close to the 85 I would like. My A1c is 5.0. Not bad, by most lights, I am doing great for a 68 year old. But I would like to hit A1c of 4.5. But not enough to ignore the adverse events reported for chromium picolinate.

shepherd, I like you, and I am very sure you are not the horse's ass you appear to be sometimes. You are very smart, and probably would have made smarter choices than me, so please be patient with my simple thinking. And if you find something stupid that I wrote, I would like to know about it. Thank you.

First of all blood glucose measurements are not really the best measure of how well you have been control your blood glucose. Hemoglobin A1C is a much better measure.

Second, side effects, as mentioned by Shepard manifest only in some patients. For example I take galantamine and do not feel nauseaq. My partner takes the same dose and she feels nausea.

Have a read of this review that looked at 15 or so clinical studies using Cr picolinate in the range of 200-1000 mcg per day

http://www.lieberton.../dia.2006.8.677

In short, if you're going to supplement in the upper ranges or at dosage where side effects are a risk then you have to weight up the risk to benefit ratio as Shep mentioned.

It's always a good idea to have some blood biochemistry before and during

You are very smart, and probably would have made smarter choices than me,  so please be patient with my simple thinking.

Dude, I just posted the phrase "Oh, know" in my reply. I can't be too sharp.

Adverse Effects reports aren't always positively linked to the substance. They might have manifested themselves during the treatment and assumed it was said substance. You also need to look at the dosages, the people being treated (metabolic disorders skew quite a few things), etc.. From my understanding, everyone can report adverse effects to the FDA through MedWatch.

As far as PDR Health, I like the site. But, here is what I read:

There is one report of a 24-year-old body builder who developed rhadomyolysis after ingesting 1,200 micrograms of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate.
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis was reported to be associated with the use of chromium picolinate.
A case of interstitial nephritis was reported to occur five months after a subject received a six-week course of 600 micrograms of chromium in the form of chromium picolinate daily.
Another report described anemia, thrombocytopenia, hemolysis, liver dysfunction, renal failure and weight loss after the use of 1,200-2,400 micrograms of chromium picolinate daily for four to five months.

1. People who claim to be bodybuilders will often find a way to hurt themselves with anything.
2. Skin rash. Probably an allergy.
3. This one is the most interesting. A condition that will lead to renal failure caused by a six-week course of 600mcg of chromium. Five months later. Not likely.
4. Very high doses. Almost definitely Type II diabetic or woman trying to lose weight. Type II diabetes = bad, bad thing. Woman trying to lose weight = Loses all common sense.

Actually, I just threw the "woman trying to lose weight" after looking over the article. My sister once went on a diet that allowed her a pack of crackers and a small bottle of grape juice. Daily. It was quite effective.

Zoolander

It's always a good idea to have some blood biochemistry before and during

Yep, I agree, I was an accountant and have 27 years of all my blood tests posted to an Access data base. Numbers.

did anyone see this: http://lawugreentea....ns-insulin.html ? I didn't try to find the studies it was based on but it's very negative on Chromium Picolinate.

Most studies I've seen have demonstrated the efficacy of chromium supplementation for those with higher fasting and post prandial glucose levels.

Quote "These data demonstrate that Cr supplementation ecreases the serum glucose levels of subjects with 90-minute glucose concentrations greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL following a glucose challenge, increases serum glucose levels of subjects with 90-minute glucose concentrations less than fasting levels, and has no effect on the serum glucose levels of subjects with 90-minute glucose values similar to but greater than fasting levels."
http://www.sciencedi...026049583902032
Quote:CONCLUSIONS—This study demonstrates that CrPic supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes who are taking sulfonylurea agents significantly improves insulin sensitivity and glucose control. Further, CrPic supplementation significantly attenuated body weight gain and visceral fat accumulation compared with the placebo group."
http://care.diabetes...29/8/1826.short

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Higher doeses (1000 mcg/ day) might be of use for older folks:

Nutr Neurosci. 2010 Jun;13(3):116-22. doi: 10.1179/147683010X12611460764084.

Improved cognitive-cerebral function in older adults with chromium supplementation.

Krikorian R, Eliassen JC, Boespflug EL, Nash TA, Shidler MD.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, PO Box 670559, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0559, USA. robert.krikorian@uc.edu

Abstract

Insulin resistance is implicated in the pathophysiological changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, and pharmaceutical treatments that overcome insulin resistance improve memory function in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early Alzheimer's disease. Chromium (Cr) supplementation improves glucose disposal in patients with insulin resistance and diabetes. We sought to assess whether supplementation with Cr might improve memory and neural function in older adults with cognitive decline. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned 26 older adults to receive either chromium picolinate (CrPic) or placebo for 12 weeks. Memory and depression were assessed prior to treatment initiation and during the final week of treatment. We also performed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans on a subset of subjects. Although learning rate and retention were not enhanced by CrPic supplementation, we observed reduced semantic interference on learning, recall, and recognition memory tasks. In addition, fMRI indicated comparatively increased activation for the CrPic subjects in right thalamic, right temporal, right posterior parietal, and bifrontal regions. These findings suggest that supplementation with CrPic can enhance cognitive inhibitory control and cerebral function in older adults at risk for neurodegeneration.

PMID: 20423560 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Edited by blood, 20 July 2013 - 08:29 AM.