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The trace element chromium--a role in glucose homeostasis
B W Morris1, A Blumsohn, S Mac Neil
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, UK.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Chromium levels in the blood decrease after meals, showing an inverse relationship with insulin. This suggests chromium is taken up by tissues sensitive to insulin, not lost through urine.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Trace Element Metabolism
Background:
- Chromium is an essential trace element involved in glucose metabolism.
- Understanding chromium's normal physiological behavior is crucial for metabolic research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diurnal variation of chromium.
- To determine chromium's response to an oral glucose challenge.
- To elucidate the relationship between chromium and insulin.
Main Methods:
- Studied nine healthy volunteers.
- Measured plasma and urine chromium concentrations using electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy.
- Measured plasma insulin concentrations via radioimmunoassay.
Main Results:
- Identified a significant inverse relationship between plasma chromium and plasma insulin concentrations over 24 hours (P < 0.001).
- Observed a significant inverse relationship after a 75-g oral glucose load (P < 0.01).
- Ruled out increased urinary loss as the primary explanation for chromium decrease post-glucose.
Conclusions:
- Plasma chromium levels decrease after meals, correlating inversely with insulin levels.
- This suggests a redistribution of chromium, likely involving uptake by insulin-sensitive tissues.
- Further research is needed to fully understand chromium binding and tissue uptake mechanisms.