The trace element chromium—a role in glucose homeostasis

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 55; no. 5; pp. 989 - 991
• Main Authors: Morris, BW, Blumsohn, A, Mac Neil, S, Gray, TA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Elsevier Inc 01.05.1992; American Society for Clinical Nutrition
• Subjects: Adult; adulte; adultos; adults; Biological and medical sciences; biological rhythms; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - metabolism; blood plasma; Carbohydrates; chrome; Chromium; Chromium - blood; Chromium - metabolism; Chromium - urine; Circadian Rhythm; cromo; diabetes; diet; dieta; dietary minerals; diurnal rhythm; diurnal variation; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glicemia; Glucose - administration & dosage; Glucose - metabolism; glucose tolerance; glycaemia; glycemie; Homeostasis; Humans; insulin; Insulin - blood; insulina; insuline; Male; metabolisme des mineraux; metabolismo de minerales; Metabolisms and neurohumoral controls; mineral metabolism; minerales; minerals; mineraux; orina; plasma sanguin; plasma sanguineo; regime alimentaire; ritmos biologicos; rythme biologique; trace metals; urine; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Chromium; diurnal rhythm; trace metals; diabetes; Human; Urine; Oral administration; Glucose tolerance test; Glucose; Circadian rhythm; Metabolism; Blood plasma; Regulation(control); Oligoelement; Carbohydrate; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/55.5.989

To better define the normal metabolism of the trace element chromium, we studied its diurnal variation and its response to an oral glucose challenge in nine healthy volunteers. Plasma and urine chromium concentrations were measured by electrothermal atomic-absorption spectroscopy and plasma insulin by radioimmunoassay. A significant inverse relationship was found between plasma chromium and plasma insulin concentrations both over a 24-h period (P < 0.001) and after a 75-g glucose load (P < 0.01). This interesting observation, suggesting the removal of chromium from the plasma compartment after meals (confirmed by glucose tolerance test), is not explained simply by increased urinary loss but might be explained by transient changes in uptake or binding of chromium by insulin-sensitive tissues.