Interactions with Chromium

A total of 115 patients with either Type I or Type II diabetes who were treated with chromium (200 mcg/day) required lower doses of insulin, sulfonylurea drugs, and metformin (Ravina and Slezack 1993). The glycemic response to chromium treatment was greater for patients with Type II diabetes (57.2%). Chromium picolinate may benefit patients with Type II diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and stimulating insulin receptor sites (McCarty 1998).

Calcium Carbonate

Administration of 1 mL antacid suspension of calcium carbonate (150 mg) prior to treatment with 20 uCi ⁵¹chromium chloride minimized accumulation of chromium in the kidneys, testes, and spleen in male rats (Seaborn and Stoecker 1990). These findings are supported by another study with female rats given antacid (40 mg) by gastric intubation (0.5 mL) followed orally by 55 uCi ⁵¹chromium chloride; chromium absorption was hindered by pretreatment with antacid (Davis et al. 1995).

References

Davis ML, Seaborn CD, Stoecker BJ. Effects of over-the counter drugs on 51chromium retention and urinary excretion in rats. Nutr Res. 1995;15:201-210.

McCarty MF. Complementary measures for promoting insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. Med Hypotheses. 1998;51(6):451-464.

Ravina A, Slezack L. Chromium in the treatment of clinical diabetes mellitus. Harefuah. 1993;125(5-6):142-145,191.

Seaborn CD, Stoecker BJ. Effects of antacid or ascorbic acid on tissue accumulation and urinary excretion of chromium-51. Nutr Res. 1990;10:1401-1408.

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