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kebaldwin
Thu, Mar-15-07, 11:20
Al Sears, MD
12794 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 16
Wellington, FL 33414

March 15, 2007

Dear Reader,

If you have extra fat around the middle, you may not realize you’re at risk for diabetes. The first phase of this disease – prediabetes – is a silent condition and has no symptoms.

And it’s not just the precursor to the full-blown disease. It’s a real threat to your health – even if you never develop the disease itself.

Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high. But the root of the problem is an over production of the hormone insulin. This is your body’s response to carbohydrate in your diet.

Six million Americans have type-II diabetes but don't know it.1 41 million are prediabetic with no idea of the risk they’re facing.

Having blood sugar in the prediabetic range – puts you at a 50 percent greater risk of both heart disease and stroke.2 Another recent study of over a million people found that just being prediabetic increases your risk of developing several types of cancer.

And remember… Having high blood sugar and excess insulin also makes you fat. Today I want to tell you about a mineral you can take to burn off that fat and protect yourself from diabetes.

Chromium maintains proper blood sugar by increasing your sensitivity to insulin. It’s like instant protection from diabetes. What’s more, if you already suffer from the disease, chromium supplements can improve glucose tolerance and normalize insulin levels naturally.

On the flip side, people low in chromium suffer from chronically high blood sugar, find themselves packing on the pounds and ultimately can fall victim to diabetes. And having a deficiency of chromium is very common. An estimated 90% of all Americans consume less than the recommended amount of chromium each and every day. What’s more, if you exercise regularly you’ll need even larger amounts of chromium than your sedentary neighbors. Active men and women excrete more chromium than couch potatoes.3

Chromium also does wonders for your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Studies show chromium can lower cholesterol and triglycerides by nearly 20%. And like I said, chromium can help you burn fat – even if you don’t exercise…

About 10 years ago, Dr. Gil Kaats and a team of researchers from the Health and Medical Research Foundation and the University of Texas Health Science Center studied over 150 people to see if they would lose fat just from taking chromium.

They split them into three groups. One group received a placebo (dummy pill). The other two groups received chromium: One getting 200 micrograms a day and the other getting 400 micrograms a day.

The participants were told not to change anything about their diet, exercise habits or how much they ate. In essence, they were allowed to do whatever they wanted.

After three months, the group taking the placebo showed no changes. The 200-microgram group lost an average of 3.4 pounds of body fat. But the 400-microgram group lost an average of 4.6 pounds of body fat – about 35% more.4 In addition, both chromium groups gained an average of 1.4 pounds of muscle.

Chromium controls your appetite, especially cravings for sweets. It also has the ability to carry protein where your body needs it most. This helps you lose fat while building lean muscle mass.5

I’ve treated hundreds of patients with chromium with good results. When you’re looking for a chromium supplement, make sure you take either chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate. They’re the most effective forms.

While the study above used either 200 or 400-microgram doses, you can safely take up to 600 micrograms a day. It’s best if you take it with meals. I use a 600-microgram chromium polynicotinate supplement with my patients once a day with food.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Neergaard L. Type 2 Diabetics Battle Blood Sugar Woes. Associated Press. May 19, 2005
2 Delahanty LM, Nathan DM. Beating Diabetes. McGraw-Hill, May 2005
3 MCarty MF. Chromium and other insulin sensitizers may enhance glucagon secretion: implications for hypoglycemia and weight control. Med Hypotheses. 1996 Jan; 83(1): 29-31.
4 Kaats GR, et al. The effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition. Current Therapeutic Research. Feb 1996
5 Anderson, RA. Effects of chromium on body composition and weight loss. Nutri Rev. 1998 Sep; 56-(9): 266-70.

source: e-mail from http://www.alsearsmd.net

freyamoon2
Thu, Mar-22-07, 20:38
wonderful reading this today. I just ordered 200mcg chromium Picolinate capsules from Higher Power Nutrition a week ago and they came in the mail today.

method
Wed, Mar-28-07, 06:00
Hmmm I have chromium polynicotinate sitting in front of me, not taken it yet but I have heard that piconates are a lot more absorbable when it comes to Zinc supplements. I wonder if non Piconates are much good?

kebaldwin
Wed, Mar-28-07, 06:11
There are only two forms that I know of:

********************************

Chromium (from Chromium picolinate)

How Does NSI® Chromium Picolinate Work?
Chromium picolinate is a combination of chromium with picolinic acid, a natural chelator that promotes absorption of certain minerals. Chromium's main function is to help insulin transport glucose from the blood into cells, for energy. It also plays a part in the metabolization of protein, fats and carbohydrates.

While chromium is not normally well-absorbed by the body, but chromium picolinate is a highly bioavailable form that's pure, natural and provides 500 mcg of elemental chromium per serving.

NSI® Chromium Picolinate better because it:


It less expensive than other chromium picolinate supplements on the market.
Is more easily absorbed than other forms of chromium.

************************

GTF Chromium (as polynicotinate) ChromeMate®

How Does NSI® Chromium GTF with ChromeMate® work?
Chromium is an essential trace mineral found in foods such as fish, whole wheat bread, brown sugar, coffee, tea and some spices. Once in the body, its main function is to help insulin bring glucose from the blood into cells for energy.

Back in the 1950s, researchers discovered that a compound called "glucose tolerance factor" (GTF) helped rats with poor blood sugar health to use insulin more efficiently. Insulin is a hormone that's needed to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy. When an individual has poor blood sugar health, they either do not produce enough insulin or their bodies are not able to use it properly. Chromium was identified as the active component of GTF.

NSI® Chromium GTF features ChromeMate®, a unique, patented niacin-bound chromium.

NSI® Chromium GTF is better because it:


Contains ChromeMate®
Delivers 200 mcg of GTF chromium in one one-capsule serving.

*********************

more info

http://www.vitacost.com/articleResults.aspx?Ntk=articles&.y=6&ss=1&.x=7&Ntt=chromium

http://www.worldhealth.net/p/aadr-chromium.html

method
Wed, Mar-28-07, 12:19
From one of the links I get this disclaimer:

"Diabetics should only take chromium under medical supervision"

Does not mention why. Since many of the people here are diabetics or pre diabetics I think it would be important to understand exactly how and why chromium might be dangerous for those with a weakened sugar-insulin mechanism.

Also I remember reading a study a few days ago that showed that a picolinate bound mineral(I think it might have been magnesium or zinc rather than chromium) was absorbed much better and faster into the blood than citrate and oxide bound mineral supplements. This would make picolinate more potent but the speed of absorbability may also make it more dangerous to diabetics.

kebaldwin
Wed, Mar-28-07, 15:56
"Diabetics should only take chromium under medical supervision"

Does not mention why. Since many of the people here are diabetics or pre diabetics I think it would be important to understand exactly how and why chromium might be dangerous for those with a weakened sugar-insulin mechanism.


They usually put that disclaimer in for everything.

But for chromium it may be even more important since it helps to control blood sugar. There are other herbs that do similar things.

If for example you have an insulin pump that dumps X amount of insulin into your blood stream every hour and now all of a sudden you start taking supplements so that you only need 1/2 of that amount -- there could be problems.

Gostrydr
Thu, Mar-29-07, 00:02
Ok Ke, Mr. Chromium lol..

Here are my thoughts on chromium.

since we are all(hopefully) on low carb diets, which in itself reduces the need for insulin, wouldn't it make sense that chromium at this point is pretty useless? I'm talking being in ketosis.

As a glucose disposal agent, chromium in my opinion is very weak. I think it helps insulin do its job better,but I think insulin mimmickers like Vanadyl Sulfate are much better. But people never take enough of it.

Now how about chromium and Vanadyl sulfate taken at the same time? I think this would be ideal if one were trying to get into ketosis. I know Dan Duchaine was a huge believer in Vanadyl and he thought it may have some anabolic properties.

But once one is in ketosis, wouldn't chromium just be worthless and a waste of money? No insulin , no need for chromium..

So if one were to start a low/zero carb diet and their goal was to get into ketosis, then I could see Chromium as an adjunct to their diet.

Of course I feel ALA is king when it comes to blood glucose abnormalities

kebaldwin
Thu, Mar-29-07, 02:11
Ok Ke, Mr. Chromium

LOL

It's sort of like - to each their own. For example, I tried CLA. Got nothing out of it. But others swear by it.

It may be that I started at 45% body fat - whereas you were probably a lot lower. I use to get a "buzz" from eating a big ol sub sandwich or pizza.

I had a huge appetite so cravings and hunger were a big problem for me. I also drink plenty of caffeine which will tries to crash my blood sugar.

But every couple of months I stop taking a lot of my supplements to see what my body will do. And over the years have found that without chromium - the cravings and hunger increase.

And I am usually a very strict meat, eggs, and cheese sort of guy.

method
Mon, Apr-02-07, 00:15
I came across a couple of sites that say chromium picolonate causes dna damage to cells:

http://www.mendosa.com/chromium.htm

http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTRACTS/Chromium_Nicotinate_vs_Picolinate.shtml



Here is an article more favorable towartds picolonate:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050416/food.asp


The chromium I purchased a couple months back was the nicotinate. Correct me if I am wrong but that is the more natural form of the two? I wish there were more details on all types to help people make a decision on which one to take. Based on the dangers I chose to avoid the picolonate.

kebaldwin
Mon, Apr-02-07, 04:11
I have been taking chromium for 5 years or so and theres nothing wrong with me :-)

Here are some articles for you

http://www.vitacost.com/science/medstudies.cfm?litid=8

Zuleikaa
Mon, Apr-02-07, 06:24
I came across a couple of sites that say chromium picolonate causes dna damage to cells:

http://www.mendosa.com/chromium.htm

http://www.chiro.org/nutrition/ABSTRACTS/Chromium_Nicotinate_vs_Picolinate.shtml



Here is an article more favorable towartds picolonate:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20050416/food.asp


The chromium I purchased a couple months back was the nicotinate. Correct me if I am wrong but that is the more natural form of the two? I wish there were more details on all types to help people make a decision on which one to take. Based on the dangers I chose to avoid the picolonate.I don't like chromium picolonate but much prefer the GTF form.

method
Mon, Apr-02-07, 07:28
I have been taking chromium for 5 years or so and theres nothing wrong with me :-)

Here are some articles for you

http://www.vitacost.com/science/medstudies.cfm?litid=8

Can I ask which form(s) of chromium you have been taking for those 5 years?

method
Mon, Apr-02-07, 07:28
I don't like chromium picolonate but much prefer the GTF form.

I think I read in one of the articles that GTF is a loosely defined term and means different things with different manufacturers. Is that right?

kebaldwin
Mon, Apr-02-07, 08:54
Can I ask which form(s) of chromium you have been taking for those 5 years?

I have been taking the cheap stuff - the Chromium picolinate. But have just recently switched to the GTF.

THis is the type I take now:

http://www.interhealthusa.com/faqs/chromemate_faqs.aspx

Regarding which people it may help -- since it helps cells take up glucose -- I would think that the more insulin resistant you are -- the more it will help you. The less insulin resistant you are -- the less it will help you.

I don't think that there is a good way to tell how insulin resistant each of us is. But I think we can estimate based on how bad our health is.

At 45 years old, 310 pounds, 45% body fat (estimate) and with most symptoms of pre type 2 diabetes / syndrome X / metabolic syndrome -- I would bet that I had a lot of insulin resistance.

Gostrydr weight was 225 and his ideal weight is 210 so I doubt he was very insulin resistant nd had many pre type 2 diabetes symptoms. So chromium did nothing (or little) for him.

BTW, a high quality "mega" multi-vitamin will contain some chromium in it. That may be plenty for normal health people and additional supplements may not be worth it.

Gostrydr
Mon, Apr-02-07, 17:31
Ke, I am insulin resistant! I had an oral glucose test to confirm it.

I took 78 units of my insulin to bring down the 100 grams of dextrose..

That is alarming.

kebaldwin
Mon, Apr-02-07, 20:11
Ke, I am insulin resistant!

So much for that idea then :-) Who knows then why it works for some and not for others.

Interesting that you were insulin resistant but not very over weight. I thought the two went together.