Symptoms of Chromium deficiency might include:
– Unexplained weight loss
– Unexplained changes in appetite
– Insulin resistance
– Confusion, memory loss
– Poor skin health
– Mood swings
– A decline in eye health
– Slow recovery time from wounds/cuts
Why Chromium May Be Considered for IV Therapy in Toronto
POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE
Did you know we offer chromium with your IV therapy at our Toronto clinic? We bet you didn’t know it could have beneficial effects on the human body!
In order to function, we need it in small amounts. It helps protect the body from DNA damage, which might aid in preventing or delaying chronic disease. It plays a part in the metabolizing and absorption of nutrients; it’s linked to longevity and possibly managing cardiovascular disease. Plus, this mineral impacts the insulin-signaling pathways, balancing glucose levels and energy levels.
Chromium has been considered for assisting with a wide variety of health issues, including those related to diabetes, blood pressure, and cognition. In this post, the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre highlights why this mineral might be useful for your health goals when taken as a supplement.
Why patients might opt for this supplementation
First, we should mention that this mineral deficiency is unusual. Trace amounts are available in different foods (i.e. turkey, grains, lettuce, apples) and multivitamins. But a deficiency has occurred in pregnant women and in these individuals:
- Seniors
- People who regularly undergo intense physical performance/exercise.
- Those who consume excessive amounts of processed and sugar-laden foods.
Accordingly, some patients might add chromium to their functional medicine treatments for these reasons:
- For helping to manage cholesterol levels: This mineral is necessary for regulating fat metabolism and cholesterol. In one published study featured in the Western Journal of Medicine, adults who took the supplement experienced lowered amounts of LDL cholesterol.
- For encouraging the prevention/management of type II diabetes: Studies have established varied results on the mineral’s link to preventing and/or managing diabetes. But numerous studies have verified beneficial outcomes. In one study from Diabetes, “…supplemental chromium had significant beneficial effects on HbA1c, glucose, insulin, and cholesterol variables in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The beneficial effects…in individuals with diabetes were observed at levels higher than the upper limit of the Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Dietary Intake.”
3. For promoting improved brain function: Keep in mind that this mineral might encourage an improvement in glucose levels and incite a response to insulin. In turn, it might encourage anti-aging effects by supporting brain function related to age-related diseases. As per a study in Medical Hypotheses, “…promoting brain insulin activity with chromium picolinate may help to maintain the hypothalamus in a more functionally youthful state…. Since both the pineal gland and thymus are dependent on insulin activity, chromium may aid their function as well.”
4. For its potential to recover skin health: Did you know that when blood sugar levels alter quickly, acne breakouts could result? Because this mineral helps regulate blood sugar, it might contribute to relieving pesky pimples.
5. For preventing a mineral deficiency: Athletes might consider this supplement to avoid a mineral deficiency: “… athletes who restrict calories to maintain low body weights could compromise their chromium status. Some evidence also shows that exercise may increase chromium loss into the urine,” says a Sports Medicine article.
Seeking help from a functional medicine provider
If you’re interested in this mineral for your health concern, please speak to a functional medicine provider first. This particular supplement could interact with blood sugar and thyroid medications, antacids and corticosteroids.
At the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, we administer this supplement as part of IV therapy (infusion therapy/vitamin drip therapy/intravenous drips) combined with oral supplementation.
Take note that chromium absorption rate is low with the oral route. IV therapy, however, bypasses the digestive tract and is immediately absorbed by the body for nutritional use.
If you want to understand the advantages of minerals for your intravenous drips, let’s talk! Please book your initial consultation at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre; this time slot will be saved for your complete diagnostic session. During this time, we’ll discuss your health condition and medications to determine if certain IV treatments might be suitable for you, for example, IV therapy with Acetylcysteine (NAC).
About our Toronto IV clinic and functional medicine programs
Located in Yorkville, our clinic can assist patients with different health issues via virtual or in-person consultations. Our functional medicine treatments could help with managing immune function, chronic illness/chronic fatigue syndrome, acute health issues adrenal function, thyroid conditions, autoimmune conditions, premature aging, post-disease symptoms, athletic recovery, adjunctive support for substance withdrawal symptoms, and other conditions.
We take pride in our customized vitamin drip treatments, which are freshly compounded with no added preservatives. IV vitamin therapy is available with high-dose vitamin C (ascorbic acid), folic acid, a medley of amino acids, glutamic acid, major antioxidants, and other key vitamins and nutrients. Please contact us to see how our functional medicine programs could contribute to longevity and cellular functioning, while boosting energy levels.
IV therapy from our Toronto clinic might have beneficial effects on your wellness. Let’s customize your therapies for optimal functioning today – call (416) 968-6961 to become a new patient at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.
References:
Afzal S, Ocasio Quinones GA. Chromium Deficiency. [Updated 2022 Jun 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582150/
Clarkson, P.M. Effects of Exercise on Chromium Levels. Sports Med 23, 341–349 (1997). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199723060-00001
“Chromium Fact Sheet for Consumers,” National Institutes of Health (NIH), updated March 22, 2021, viewed on September 10, 2022.
“Chromium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals,” National Institutes of Health (NIH), updated June 2, 2022, viewed on September 10, 2022.
Drake, T. C., Rudser, K. D., Seaquist, E. R., & Saeed, A. (2012). Chromium infusion in hospitalized patients with severe insulin resistance: A retrospective analysis. Endocrine Practice, 18(3), 394-398. https://doi.org/10.4158/EP11243.OR
Huang H, Chen G, Dong Y, Zhu Y, Chen H. Chromium supplementation for adjuvant treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: Results from a pooled analysis. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2018 Jan;62(1). doi: 10.1002/mnfr.201700438. Epub 2017 Aug 15. PMID: 28677892.
Lefavi, R. G., Anderson, R. A., Keith, R. E., Wilson, G. D., McMillan, J. L., & Stone, M. H. (1992). Efficacy of Chromium Supplementation in Athletes; Emphasis on Anabolism, International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 2(2), 111-122. Retrieved Sep 11, 2022, from https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/2/2/article-p111.xml
M.F. McCarty, Longevity effect of chromium picolinate — ‘rejuvenation’ of hypothalamic function?, Medical Hypotheses,Volume 43, Issue 4, 1994, Pages 253-265, ISSN 0306-9877, https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9877(94)90076-0.
Press RI, Geller J, Evans GW. The effect of chromium picolinate on serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein fractions in human subjects. West J Med. 1990 Jan;152(1):41-5. PMID: 2408233; PMCID: PMC1002252.
Richard A Anderson, Nanzheng Cheng, Noella A Bryden, Marilyn M Polansky, Nanping Cheng, Jiaming Chi, Jinguang Feng; Elevated Intakes of Supplemental Chromium Improve Glucose and Insulin Variables in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes 1 November 1997; 46 (11): 1786–1791. https://doi.org/10.2337/diab.46.11.1786
Swaroop A, Bagchi M, Preuss HG, Zafra-Stone S, Ahmad T, Bagchi D. Benefits of chromium (III) complexes in animal and human health. In: Vincent JB, ed. The Nutritional Biochemistry of Chromium (III). Cambridge, MA: Elsevier; 2019:251-78.
“The benefits and risks of chromium,” for Medical News Today, Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Megan Ware, RDN, L.D. on May 22, 2017, viewed on September 10, 2022.
Trumbo PR, Ellwood KC. Chromium picolinate intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: an evidence-based review by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Nutr Rev. 2006 Aug;64(8):357-63. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2006.tb00220.x. PMID: 16958312.
