Chromium deficiency is believed to be relatively common in the United States, with 80 percent of the population affected.
It is an disorder that results from an insufficient dietary intake of chromium.
Many people such as athletes, diabetics, pregnant women and the elderly are specially at risk of chromium deficiency.
Chromium is the metal portion of GTF (glucose tolerance factor) with insulin, GTF affects the metabolism of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides.
Therefore, chromium is important for glucose tolerance, glycogen synthesis, amino acids transport and protein synthesis.
A deficiency of chromium can lead to anxiety, fatigue, glucose intolerance, impaired insulin function, inadequate metabolism of amino acids, type 2 diabetes, and an increased risk of arthrosclerosis.
Chromium deficiency increases fat production because it slows the burning of food for energy. The non-fuel food calories are then converted to fat and stored in fat tissues.
Chromium deficiency has been reported in patients receiving long term parental nutrition without supplementation. Clinical features attributed to the chromium deficiency were weight loss, peripheral neuropathy and encephalopathy.
Deficiency of chromium
