Chromium chloride is a trace mineral found in red meat, grains, and cheese. It plays a role in regulating blood sugar levels and metabolism. Chromium supplements may benefit those with type 2 diabetes and those with mineral-poor diets. The recommended daily allowance is 50 to 200 micrograms for adults and adolescents. Risk groups for deficiency include the elderly, those with high sugar diets, and those with precursors to type 2 diabetes.
Chromium chloride is the naturally occurring trivalent variety of the mineral chromium found in many types of foods and synthesized supplements. More commonly known as chromium alone, chromium chloride is a human dietary requirement, albeit in trace amounts. Although the mineral has been shown to play an essential role in metabolic functions, the exact mechanisms by which chromium functions in the human body are still unknown. Chromium chloride is found naturally in red meat, grains, and cheese. One of the most common uses for chromium in supplement form is as an insulin and blood sugar regulator for those with type 2 diabetes.
Chromium is typically found in two very different forms. The first, known as chromium 3+, is the biologically active, trivalent variety found in food. The second is the highly toxic hexavalent chromium 6+, which is primarily an industrial waste product. In its natural state, the mineral is found in trace amounts in a wide variety of foods. Natural food sources include red meat, particularly liver, leafy vegetables, various types of spices, fruits, and wheat products.
The exact biological processes by which chromium chloride functions in the human body remain a mystery. What researchers do know, however, is that the mineral plays a role in regulating and supporting several essential and often critical biological functions. One of the most important is the control of blood sugar levels through the effective use of insulin. In fact, chromium plays a role in the effective metabolism of proteins and fats, as well as carbohydrates. This alone makes chromium chloride a logical and potentially highly beneficial dietary supplement candidate.
This is particularly true when the poor nature of modern diets is compared with the generally small concentrations of chromium found naturally in foods. Supplements can go a long way in addressing the health risks associated with chronic dietary deficiencies of minerals like chromium. That being said, chromium chloride, and its synthesized sister chromium picolinate, may offer type 2 diabetics and those whose diets are very mineral-poor a convenient and quick mineral intake solution. For those who require supplementation, the recommended daily allowance for chromium chloride has been set at 50 to 200 micrograms (mcg) for adults and adolescents.
Defining risk groups for chromium deficiency has proven to be as difficult as determining the exact biological function of the mineral itself. This is due to the fact that it is almost impossible to reliably establish the body’s stores of chromium. The elderly, those whose diets are high in simple sugars, and people suffering from or showing any of the precursors to type 2 diabetes are generally considered candidates for chromium supplementation. However, this should be confirmed by a medical professional before embarking on a chromium chloride supplementation regimen.
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