Category

• Nutritional supplement, mineral Chromic Chloride; Chromium

Description Drug

Chromium supplements are using to prevent or treat chromium deficiency.

The body needs chromium for normal growth and health. For diseaseds who are unable to get enough chromium in their regular diet or who have a need for more chromium, chromium supplements may be necessary. They are generally taken by mouth but some diseaseds may have to receive them by injection. Chromium helps your body use sugar properly. It is also needed for the breakdown of proteins and fats.

Lack of chromium may lead to nerve problems and may decrease the body's ability to use sugar properly.

There is not enough evidence to show that taking chromium supplements improves the way your body uses sugar - glucose tolerance.

Injectable chromium is given by or under the supervision of a health care professional. Other forms are available without a prescription.

Chromium supplements are available in the following dosage forms:

Oral
• Chromium
  • Capsules - USA
  • Tablets - USA and Canada

Parenteral
• Chromic Chloride
  • Injection - USA

Importance of Diet

Chromium is found in various foods, including brewer's yeast, calf liver, American cheese and wheat germ.

The daily amount of chromium needed is defined in few various ways.

For USA
• Recommended Dietary Allowances - RDAs are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy people. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex and physical condition - pregnancy.
• Daily Values - DVs are using on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances - USRDAs.

For Canada
• Recommended Nutrient Intakes - RNIs are using to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.

Because a lack of chromium is rare, there is no RDA or RNI for it. Normal daily recommended intakes for chromium are generally defined as follows:

• Infants and children
  • Birth to 3 years of age: 10 to 80 micrograms - mcg a day.
  • 4 to 6 years of age: 30 to 120 mcg a day.
  • 7 to 10 years of age: 50 to 200 mcg a day.
• Adolescents and adults 50 to 200 mcg a day.

Brand Names

Some commonly using brand names are:

In the USA

• Chroma-Pak

For quick reference, the following chromium supplements are numbered to match the corresponding brand name.