From: Eleanor Hayes-Cook <elle@europa.com>

Subject: Re: Chromium and supplements: Deficiency present?

 

theresa wrote"

> "A few years ago, researchers found that diabetics who had chromium

> *deficiencies* benefitted by a chromium supplement, in that their blood

> sugars improved. However, if one does *not* have a chromium deficiency,

> taking chromium is not likely to help. ALSO, somehow this information

> made a giant leap to people claiming that chromium will aid in weight

> loss...

 

this is *not* true!"***well, actually many diabetics who get their bg's in control GAIN weight because they arent peeing the glucose out as they have been but are now absorbing into their cells. I'm on 2 diabetes mailing lists and

have never heard this weight loss claim, altho there are many of us who

take chromium for bg lowering.

> I personally think the leap may have been because some of those diabetics

> whose blood sugars came down may have also lost weight.

 

****Like so many things in the world, supps are a YMMV thing.

I take chromium, along with several other supps, my bg's are now

consistantly low enough to have been withdrawn from diabetic meds

(Obviously I'm a Type II). With weight loss, healthier eating habits and

available supps I hope to stay that way. I do however still test

frequently.

Any excesses may

> eventually filter through our systems, but it makes our organs work much

> harder to get them out of our bodies. It can affect our kidneys, liver,

> etc. So, if a person already has any organ that is diseased, it will

> damage it further, especially the kidneys.

 

****Doctors are very willing to do tests for organ function ie: kidney

and liver. If one has healthy organs and is searching for non

pharmacological ways of controlling chronic illness and has the financial

ability to purchase supps that why not.??

 

> So, this new knowledge tells me that before I take any supplements, I had

> better find out if I have a deficiency first instead of just taking

> something that is "supposed" to help.

 

I requested testing for this from my doctor and was told the concept is 'worthless' and a waste of the lab time.

This doctor now considers me his diabetic shining star but continues to

discount the role that the supps might have in my excellent control.

OTOH, the naturopath I consulted with, who is also a dietitian gives a

great deal of credit to the supps.

For me-after a few months, I will again turn myself into a lab rat and

see what withdrawing from the supps does.

BTW-I keep careful food and bg and supplement logs so this isn't a

figment of an overactive imagination<g> or a placebo effect.

elle