Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) Chromium

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Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) Chromium

JoAnn Guest

Nov 06, 2006 17:17 PST

 

 

 

Q: What is GTF chromium? Why do people need it?

 

A: GTF chromium was discovered when yeast extracts mixed with

insulin were found to make insulin work better in the lowering of

blood sugar levels. GTF, which contains chromium, was also found to

be important in reducing cholesterol and triglycerides in diabetics.

GTF is an essential micronutrient but can not be classified as

either a trace element or a vitamin. It is currently classified as

a " nutrient " which means that it can be sold over the counter

(without prescription or regulation). While glucose tolerance factor

chromium is found naturally in our foods: beef, beer, black pepper,

brewer's yeast, cheese, clams, fresh fruits,

lobsters, mushrooms, potatoes, scallops, thyme, whole grains, wines,

research studies at the United States Department of Agriculture have

estimated that as many as nine out of ten American diets are

deficient in this important nutrient.

 

Not only do most of us not get

enough GTF chromium, the simple sugars in our diets, stress, and the

simple act of aging all reduce the chromium supplies our bodies may

have.

 

Q: Is chromium picolinate the same as GTF chromium? Can I take the

picolinate instead?

 

 

A: It is important to know that chromiums are not created equal.

 

Chromium picolinate is not GTF chromium.

 

There have been some

concerns regarding the picolinate part of chromium picolinate and

until that issue is clarified, we would not recommend taking

chromium picolinate.

 

To our knowledge, however, there has never been any question

regarding the safety of GTF chromium. If GTF chromium

supplementation is selected (as always after consultation with a

doctor),

 

it is important that it contain no other additives, such as

niacin.

 

The label should state that the product has " biological

activity " .

 

Be aware that taking a vitamin pill that contains chromium is not

the same as taking GTF chromium; most vitamin pills do not contain

biologically active chromium.

 

What you take with your GTF chromium is important.

 

Zinc competes

with chromium for absorption and therefore it is generally

recommended that GTF be taken with no food or other supplementations.

 

The daily recommended supplementation of GTF is 200 micrograms. GTF

usually comes as a 100 microgram tablet or as a 200 microgram

tablet. Toxic levels are 10,000 times that found in a 200 microgram

tablet and therefore is considered safe.

 

More information on GTF can be found in our most recent books for

adults, The Carbohydrate Addict's LifeSpan Program and Healthy For

Life

http://www.carbohydrateaddicts.com/glucose.html

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Chromium

Also indexed as: Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF Chromium)

 

http://www.truestarhealth.com/Notes/2829000.html

 

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps the body maintain

normal blood sugar levels.

 

In addition to its well-studied effects in diabetes, preliminary

research has found that chromium supplementation also improves

glucose

tolerance in people with Turner's syndrome—a disease linked with

glucose

intolerance.1

 

Chromium may also play a role in increasing HDL ( " good " )

cholesterol,2

while lowering total cholesterol levels.3

 

Chromium, in a form called chromium picolinate, has been studied for

its

potential role in altering body composition. Preliminary research in

animals4 and humans5 6 suggested that chromium picolinate increases

fat

loss and promotes a gain in lean muscle tissue.

 

Double-blind research has also reported a reduction in body fat7 and

body weight8 in people given 400 mcg of chromium (as chromium

picolinate) per day for three months. However, other studies have

failed

to show a significant effect of chromium picolinate on body

composition.9

 

Where is it found?

The best source of chromium is true brewer's yeast. Nutritional

yeast

and torula yeast do not contain significant amounts of chromium and

are

not suitable substitutes for brewer's yeast.

 

Chromium is also found in whole grains, raw nuts and cereals, though

much of it is lost when these foods are refined. Some brands of beer

contain significant amounts of chromium.

 

Chromium has been used in connection with the following conditions

(refer to the individual health concern for complete information):

 

Rating Health Concerns

High cholesterol

 

Hypoglycemia

 

Type 1 diabetes

 

Type 2 diabetes

 

High triglycerides

 

Insulin resistance syndrome (Syndrome X)

 

Athletic performance

 

Depression

 

Weight loss

 

Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a

substantial health benefit.

 

Who is likely to be deficient?

Most people eat less than the U.S. National Academy of Science's

recommended range of 50–200 mcg per day. The high incidence of

adult-onset diabetes suggests to some doctors that many people

should be

supplementing with small amounts of chromium.

 

How much is usually taken?

A daily intake of 200 mcg is recommended by many doctors.

 

Are there any side effects or interactions?

In supplemental amounts (typically 50–300 mcg per day), chromium has

not

been found to cause toxicity in humans. While there are a few

reports of

people developing medical problems while taking chromium, a cause-

effect

relationship was not proven.

 

One study suggested that chromium in very high concentrations in a

test

tube could cause chromosomal mutations in ovarian cells of

hamsters.10

11

 

Chromium picolinate can be altered by antioxidants or hydrogen

peroxide

in the body to a form that could itself create free radical

damage.12 In

theory, these changes could increase the risk of cancer, but so far,

chromium intake has not been linked to increased incidence of cancer

in

humans.13

 

Chromium supplementation may enhance the effects of drugs for

diabetes

(e.g., insulin, blood sugar-lowering agents) and possibly lead to

hypoglycemia. Therefore, people with diabetes taking these

medications

should supplement with chromium only under the supervision of a

doctor.

 

One report of severe illness (including liver and kidney damage)

occurring in a person who was taking 1,000 mcg of chromium per day

has

been reported.14 However, chromium supplementation was not proven to

be

the cause of these problems. Another source claimed that there have

been

reports of mild heart rhythm abnormalities with excessive chromium

ingestion.15 However, no published evidence supports this assertion.

 

Three single, unrelated cases of toxicity have been reported from

use of

chromium picolinate. A case of kidney failure appeared after taking

600

mcg per day for six weeks.16 A case of anemia, liver dysfunction,

and

other problems appeared after four to five months of 1,200–2,400 mcg

per

day.17

 

A case of a muscle disease known as rhabdomyolysis appeared in a

body

builder who took 1200 mcg over 48 hours.18 Whether these problems

were

caused by chromium picolinate or, if so, whether other forms of

chromium

might have the same effects at these high amounts remains unclear.

No

one should take more than 300 mcg per day of chromium without the

supervision of a doctor.

 

Preliminary research has found that vitamin C " increases " the

" absorption " of chromium.

 

Are there any drug interactions?

Certain medicines may interact with chromium. Refer to drug

interactions

for a list of those medicines.

 

References:

1. Saner G, Yüzbasiyan V, Neyzi O, et al. Alterations of chromium

metabolism and effect of chromium supplementation in Turner's

syndrome

patients. Am J Clin Nutr 1983;38:574-8.

 

2. Riales R, Albrink MJ. Effect of chromium chloride supplementation

on

glucose tolerance and serum lipids including high-density

lipoprotein of

adult men. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:2670-8.

 

3. Wang MM, Fox EZ, Stoecker BJ, et al. Serum cholesterol of adults

supplemented with brewer's yeast or chromium chloride. Nutr Res

1989;9:989-98.

 

4. Page TG, Southern LL, Ward TL, et al. Effect of chromium

picolinate

on growth and serum and carcass traits of growing-finishing pigs. J

Anim

Sci 1993;71:656-62.

 

5. Lefavi R, Anderson R, Keith R, et al. Efficacy of chromium

supplementation in athletes: emphasis on anabolism. Int J Sport Nutr

1992;2:111-22.

 

6. McCarty MF. The case for supplemental chromium and a survey of

clinical studies with chromium picolinate. J Appl Nutr 1991;43:59-66.

 

7. Kaats GR, Blum K, Fisher JA, Adelman JA. Effects of chromium

picolinate supplementation on body composition: a randomized,

double-masked, placebo-controlled study. Curr Ther Res 1996;57:747-

56.

 

8. Kaats GR, Blum K, Pullin D, et al. A randomized, double-masked,

placebo-controlled study of the effects of chromium picolinate

supplementation on body composition: a replication and extension of

a

previous study. Curr Ther Res 1998;59:379-88.

 

9. Hallmark MA, Reynolds TH, DeSouza CA, et al. Effects of chromium

and

resistive training on muscle strength and body composition. Med Sci

Spt

Ex 1996;28:139-44.

 

10. Sterns DM, Belbruno JJ, Wetterhahn KE. A prediction of chromium

(III) accumulation in humans from chromium dietary supplements.

FASEB J

1995;9:1650–7.

 

11. Sterns DM, Wise JP, Patierno SR, Wetterhahn KE. Chromium (III)

picolinate produces chromosome damage in Chinese hamster ovary

cells.

FASEB J 1995;9:1643–9.

 

12. Speetjens JK, Collins RA, Vincent JB, Woski SA. The nutritional

supplement chromium (III) tris(picolinate) cleaves DNA. Chem Res

Toxicol

1999;12:483–7.

 

13. Garland M, Morris JS, Colditz GA, et al. Toenail trace element

levels and breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1996;144:653–60.

 

14. Cerulli J, Grabe DW, Guathier I, et al. Chromium picolinate

toxicity. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:428–31.

 

15. Shannon M. Alternative medicines toxicology: a review of

selected

agents. J Clin Toxicol 1999;37:709–13.

 

16. Wasser WG, Feldman NS. Chronic renal failure after ingestion of

over-the-counter chromium picolinate. Ann Intern Med 1997;126:410

[letter].

 

17. Cerulli J, Grabe DW, Gauthier I, et al. Chromium picolinate

toxicity. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:428–31.

 

18. Martin WR, Fuller RE. Suspected chromium picolinate-induced

rhabdomyolysis. Pharmacotherapy 1998;18:860–2.

 

19. Offenbacher EG. Promotion of chromium absorption by ascorbic

acid.

Trace Elements Electrolytes 1994;11:178–81.

 

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets