Trivalent chromium

Chromium/Nutrient Depletion:

  • AntacidsAntacids: According to animal research, the concomitant use of antacids and chromium may reduce chromium absorption (224; 225). Anecdotally, chromium may also decrease the urinary excretion of calcium and hydroxyproline.
  • CorticosteroidsCorticosteroids: Corticosteroids may increase urinary chromium excretion, resulting in chromium deficiency or corticosteroid-induced hyperglycemia. In non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, oral chromium supplements reversed increases in blood glucose associated with dexamethasone (Decadron?) and prednisone (Deltasone?). Chromium also reduced the insulin dose required by a patient who experienced prednisone-induced diabetes after a kidney transplant (234).
  • GlucoseGlucose: In humans, chromium demonstrated hypoglycemic effects in both healthy and diabetic patients (30; 31; 29). In human research, treatment with chromium resulted in a significant increase in acute insulin response to glucose (88), as well as reductions in HbA1c and fasting blood glucose (60; 67; 68; 55; 28; 63; 39; 62; 226; 70) and improvements in postprandial glucose, fasting insulin, postprandial insulin, insulin resistance, whole-body insulin-mediated glucose disposal, glucose area under the curve, and fructosamine (61; 60; 28; 56; 62; 226; 70; 64; 72). However, some studies showed no effects on glucose and insulin parameters or HbA1c (59; 66; 69; 57; 65). In patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, chromium supplementation led to a significant improvement in glucose tolerance (99) and a significant increase in the glucose disposal rate (98). In a case report, humans receiving chromium had improved glucose control and decreased insulin requirements (228).
  • IronIron: Iron concentrations may be affected by chromium ingestion. Chromium competes with iron for transferrin binding and may affect iron transport (40), although this has been challenged (41; 42).
  • LipidsLipids: In human research, chromium reduced total cholesterol, LDL, and triglyceride concentrations while increasing HDL (229; 230; 231; 232; 82; 233; 80; 83; 78; 74; 70; 39; 62; 28; 226). In other human research, chromium improved intrahepatic lipid stores (63).
  • Proton pump inhibitors and H2 blockersProton pump inhibitors and H2 blockers: Anecdotally, H2 blockers may decrease chromium concentration by inhibiting its absorption.
  • ZincZinc: Theoretically, the coadministration of chromium and zinc may decrease the absorption of both chromium and zinc.