From: trisa@juno.com (Theresa B Gilman)

Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 11:51:04 EST

> "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.

Elle,

I was just quoting my teacher who is a registered dietician and just

received her master's degree in nutritional sciences. I am assuming that

she has much more up-to-date information that I do.

> 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 am also on two diabetes mailing lists and I have never heard the weight

loss claim in that forum either. Where I've heard it is at GNC-type

stores, I've read about it in magazines, and I've heard MANY people

talking about chromium being a weight loss aid. I've seen it in mail

order catalogs for vitamins where it was spoken of as fact. I shared

that bit of info because I think too many people jump on something that

they have heard has helped someone lose weight, and many diabetics that

I've been in contact with are in need of losing weight.

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

>consistantly low enough to have been withdrawn from diabetic meds...

Maybe it works for you because you have a chromium deficiency. It sounds

like your doctor doesn't think it's worth checking. My only point was

that according to my teacher and my text book, chromium does not

automatically lower everyone's bg. If there is not a deficiency, taking

supplements will not be beneficial.

Hope this clears up what I was trying to say.

Theresa

trisa@juno.com