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[Is chromium an essential trace element in human nutrition?]
1Materials and Bioengineering, Kansai University, Japan. hanmyou4@kansai-u.ac.jp
Nihon Eiseigaku Zasshi. Japanese Journal of Hygiene
|October 26, 2012
Summary
Chromium
Area of Science:
- Nutritional science
- Trace element research
- Metabolic studies
Context:
- Chromium's role in carbohydrate metabolism and glucose tolerance has been debated.
- Previous research suggested chromium is essential, but recent findings challenge this.
Purpose:
- To re-evaluate the nutritional essentiality of chromium by reviewing existing literature.
- To assess the validity of previous experimental conditions and findings regarding chromium.
Summary:
- Many prior studies used animal feed with chromium levels higher than 0.1 μg/g, not inducing a deficient state.
- Chromium doses used to improve glucose tolerance were pharmacological, exceeding human daily intake.
- Severely low-chromium diets (0.016 μg/g) did not impair glucose tolerance in recent studies.
- Estimated chromium absorption in humans (<1 μg/day) is lower than other essential trace elements.
- Chromium intake appears influenced by food processing contamination, not solely dietary content.
Impact:
- Suggests chromium may not be an essential trace element.
- Highlights potential flaws in previous experimental designs concerning chromium.
- Calls for a re-evaluation of chromium's nutritional significance and metabolic role.
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