Deficiency effects chromium

Although requirements for vitamins and trace elements are known in health (Table 30-1), the effects of illness on these requirements are poorly understood and quantified. However, it is now apparent that as an individual develops progressively more severe depletion in vitamin or trace element status, the person passes through a series of stages with biochemical or physiological consequences. The metabolic or physiological penalty of such suboptimal nutritional status is usually not clear, but the assumption remains that the suboptimal metabolism is likely to have detrimental effects (e.g., subclinical deficiency of folic acid is associated with an increase in serum homocysteine concentration, which is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease—see Chapter 26). Similarly, subclinical deficiency of chromium may be associated with impaired glucose tolerance in certain types of diabetes. 

Intravenous administration of glucose and/or other nutrients—Long-term maintenance of hospitalized patients on intravenous solutions may accentuate the effects of mild to moderate deficiencies of chromium, manganese, and zinc, because (1) each of these essential trace elements is involved, somehow, in the actions of insulin, and (2) increases in blood sugar add to the workload of the insulin-secreting system. Also, it is noteworthy that the solutions... 

Metabolic Functions. Chromium (ITT) potentiates the action of insulin and may be considered a cofactor for insulin (137,138). In in vitro tests of epididymal fat tissue of chromium-deficient rats, Cr(III) increases the uptake of glucose only in the presence of insulin (137). The interaction of Cr(III) and insulin also is demonstrated by experimental results indicating an effect of Cr(III) in translocation of sugars into ceUs at the first step of sugar metaboHsm. Chromium is thought to form a complex with insulin and insulin receptors (136). 

Chromium has proved effective in counteracting the deleterious effects of cadmium in rats and of vanadium in chickens. High mortality rates and testicular atrophy occurred in rats subjected to an intraperitoneal injection of cadmium salts however, pretreatment with chromium ameliorated these effects (Stacey et al. 1983). The Cr-Cd relationship is not simple. In some cases, cadmium is known to suppress adverse effects induced in Chinese hamster (Cricetus spp.) ovary cells by Cr (Shimada et al. 1998). In southwestern Sweden, there was an 80% decline in chromium burdens in liver of the moose (Alces alces) between 1982 and 1992 from 0.21 to 0.07 mg Cr/kg FW (Frank et al. 1994). During this same period in this locale, moose experienced an unknown disease caused by a secondary copper deficiency due to elevated molybdenum levels as well as chromium deficiency and trace element imbalance (Frank et al. 1994). In chickens (Gallus sp.), 10 mg/kg of dietary chromium counteracted adverse effects on albumin metabolism and egg shell quality induced by 10 mg/kg of vanadium salts (Jensen and Maurice 1980). Additional research on the beneficial aspects of chromium in living resources appears warranted, especially where the organism is subjected to complex mixtures containing chromium and other potentially toxic heavy metals. 

Frank, A., V. Galgan, and L.R. Petersson. 1994. Secondary copper deficiency, chromium deficiency and trace element imbalance in the moose (Alces alces L.) effect of anthropogenic activity. Ambio 23 315-317. 

Most forms of Cr(III) are not absorbed and utilized by the body. For this reason, and because of the increased use of sucrose and other refined foods, a marginal human chromium deficiency may be widespread.604 605 This may result not only in poor utilization of glucose but also in other effects on lipid and protein metabolism.597 However, questions have been raised about the use of chromium picolinate as a dietary supplement. High concentrations have been reported to cause chromosome damage606 and there may be danger of excessive accumulation of chromium in the body.607... 

The influences of vanadium compounds on cardiovascular function, a major complication of diabetes, has been reviewed [144], One of the first papers on the antidiabetic effects of oral administration of vanadium compounds (vanadyl sulfate) to rats with STZ-induced diabetes showed improvement of diabetes-impaired cardiac function [122], Recent work has focused on the correction of metabolic defects of diabetes by vanadium and learning more about the immediate mechanism of the antidiabetic effect. The assumption is made that amelioration of the basic metabolic problems of diabetes by vanadium or any other drug will alleviate the long-term complication arising from disease. Diet supplementation with minerals, such as chromium, appears to complement traditional treatments of diabetes to slow the development of complications. Mineral supplementation is believed to be most effective when dietary supplementation is used to correct a deficiency of a mineral [145],... 

Extensive optimization studies identified highly electron-deficient 2,4-dinitrobenzyl-substituted aziridines as the most reactive substrates, chromium as the metal of choice, and indanol-derived Schiff bases as the most effective ligands. In this ring-opening process, catalyst 61 provided the highest selectivities. Using these optimized conditions, a variety of aziridines were selectively opened in a very efficient manner (Scheme 17.21).51 This reaction can provide an easy access to C2-symmetric 1,2-diamines, a valuable class of chiral auxiliaries, and even to less accessible non-C2-symmetric 1,2-diamines because of the differentially protected amines of the ring-opened products. 

No studies were located regarding death in humans after acute inhalation of chromium or chromium compounds. An increased risk of death from noncancer respiratory disease was reported in retrospective mortality studies of workers in a chrome plating plant (Sorahan et al. 1987) and chromate production (Davies et al. 1991 Taylor 1966) (see Section 2.2.1.2, Respiratory Effects). However, a number of methodological deficiencies in these studies prevent the establishment of a definitive cause-effect... 

CHROMIUM Enhances the effect of insulin. Deficiency—results in defective glucose metabolism. Excess—occurs in chronic inhalation of chromium dust and may lead to carcinoma of the lung. 

Transferrin is mainly synthesized in the hepatocytes. There are about 20 known variants. Iron is transported by transferrin (approx. 30% of transferrin is saturated with iron). With the help of a membrane receptor, the iron-transferrin complex is taken up and released in the liver cell, where it is immediately bound (because of its toxicity) to ferritin. The liver cells take up iron predominantly from transferrin, to a lesser degree also from haptoglobin, haemopexin, lactoferrin and circulating ferrin. Transferrin, which is mainly formed in the hepatocytes, may also bind and transport, in decreasing order, chromium, copper, manganese, cobalt, cadmium, zinc and nickel. The half-life of transferrin is 1 - 2 hours, which is very short in view of its total blood concentration of 3-4 mg. Approximately 0.4 g ferritin iron is stored in the liver. In the case of transferrin deficiency, its bacteriostatic and fungistatic effects are also reduced. Transferrin without iron saturation is known as apo-transferrin. (31, 66, 67)... 

Chromium is a trivalent cption that occurs as A typical daily intake isO-5 3-8 jimoJ (25-200 ig/day). After absorption from the diet, chromium occurs bound to transferrin. A safe and adequate intake of 50 to 200 ffg Cr/day has been established. Chromium appears to participate in glucose metabolism. The ion may play a part in mediating the hormonal effects of insulin. Chromium deficiency results in abnormally high glucose tolerance curves and impaired clearance of plasma glucose. Chromium deficiency can be induced in animals. There is evidence that... 

Chromium is an element with two faces, as far as health effects are concerned. Small amounts of chromium are essential for the health of plants and animals. In humans, a chromium deficiency leads to diabetes-like symptoms. Diabetes is a disease that develops when the body does not use sugar properly. Chromium seems to play a role in helping the body use sugar. 

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