Chromium
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Food Science and Human Nutrition Program
The functioning of chromium in the body is less understood than that of most other minerals. It enhances the actions of insulin so it plays a role in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. Currently, the results of scientific studies evaluating the usefulness of chromium supplementation in preventing and treating Type 2 diabetes are largely inconclusive. More research is needed to better determine if chromium is helpful in treating certain chronic diseases and, if so, at what doses. If a deficiency of chromium occurs in the body, signs and symptoms include weight loss, peripheral neuropathy, elevated plasma glucose concentrations or impaired glucose use, and high plasma free fatty acid concentrations. Although toxicity of the mineral is a low risk in humans, it can cause DNA damage, organ damage, and renal problems. Tissues that are high in chromium include the liver, spleen, and bone.[1]
Dietary Reference Intakes for Chromium
The recommended intake for chromium is 35 mcg per day for adult males and 25 mcg per day for adult females. There is insufficient evidence to establish an UL for chromium.
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Table 1: Dietary Reference Intakes for Chromium |
|
|
Age Group |
AI (μg/day) |
|
Infants (0-6 months) |
0.2 |
|
Infants (6-12 months) |
5.5 |
|
Children (1-3 years) |
11 |
|
Children (4-8 years) |
15 |
|
Children (9-13 years) |
25 (males), 21 (females) |
|
Adolescents (14-18 years) |
35 (males), 24 (females) |
|
Adults (19-50 years) |
35 (males), 25 (females) |
|
Adults (>50 years) |
30 (males), 20 (females) |
Source: The National Academies Press (2006). Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential Guide to Nutrient Requirements. The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine. 296.
Dietary Sources For Chromium:
Dietary sources of chromium include meats, nuts, and whole grains. [2]
Learning Activities
Technology Note: The second edition of the Human Nutrition Open Educational Resource (OER) textbook features interactive learning activities. These activities are available in the web-based textbook and not available in the downloadable versions (EPUB, Digital PDF, Print_PDF, or Open Document).
Learning activities may be used across various mobile devices, however, for the best user experience it is strongly recommended that users complete these activities using a desktop or laptop computer and in Google Chrome.
- Gropper, S. A. S., Smith, J. L., & Carr, T. P. (2018). Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. ↵
- Anderson, R. A., Bryden, N. A., & Polansky, M. M. (1992). Dietary chromium intake. Freely chosen diets, institutional diet, and individual foods. Biological Trace Element Research, 32, 117–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02784595. Accessed December 5, 2019. ↵
An element used in the body to promote chemical reactions and help form body structures.
A hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels to transport glucose into the muscle or fat cells.
The entire biochemical activities of an organism.
