From: kenworth@oodis01.af.mil (Tom Kenworthy)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Chromium Picolinate
Date: 19 Aug 92 18:39:55 GMT
Organization: Ogden, Utah

Hi!  I have been taking 200 micrograms of Chromium Picolinate (CP) for 3 months
now.  I do not have body fat percentages for then and now but I can definitely
see a difference in the mirror.  I feel that should be the bottom line anyway,
but that's just my humble opinion.  Anyway, a fellow worker brought in this
brochure from her doctor's office titled, "The astonishing benefits of CP".
It talks about a Dr. Jeffrey Fisher, M.D., and his book " The Chromium
Program".  I will quote from the pamphlet the important stuff and there are
7 references listed.
 
According to the USDA, only one person in ten gets even the minimum recommended
amount of chromium (50 micrograms) in typical U.S. diets.  The National
Academy of Sciences recommends 50 to 200 micrograms daily. It's well
established that both exercise and high sugar consumption increase the body's
need for chromium.  This shortage of chromium in so many diets creates serious
problems which relate to weight maintenance, to energy and stamina, to muscle
building and to much more.  

Insulin is an incredibly important hormone that minute by minute regulates the
metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein.  These are the three major
food categories necessary for your body to produce energy and to function.
Biologically active chromium is absolutely necessary if insulin is to do its
job.  Technically, it's called an ** essential cofactor ** for insulin.
Unquestionably, CP helps you lose fat while sparing muscle.  In two scientific
studies at a major university, students taking 200 micrograms of CP (and
exercising moderately) lost 22% of their body fat and significantly increased
muscle.  Cp further aids weight loss by increasing the metabolic rate.  It
also speeds up the metabolism of a special type of fat called "brown fat" and
appears to suppress appetite, especially sugar cravings.  This is certainly
reasonable.  If ample glucose is readily available within the cells, where it
can be burned for energy, there is no need for the brain to "tell" the body to
"send me more blood sugar; I'm hungry".  In short, CP can prevent false hunger
associated with insufficient glucose metabolism.  Most people who take CP say
it definitely reduces their cravings for sweet foods like candies, cookies,
and ice cream. (I do concur with this statement, except I will always eat ice
cream when available :-). )  Insulin and chromium not only assure rapid uptake
of blood sugar, they also assure its rapid conversion into glycogen, a special
form of glucose that is stored for future use and released as needed.  Cp and
insulin also insure that protein gets out of the blood efficiently and into
cells where it can be assembled into new muscle tissue.

Cp was developed by research scientists at the government's Human Nutrition
Research Laboratory and is patented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
After extensive testing, it is now available as a safe and effective
nutitional supplement. 

After all that , a fellow runner who is a nurse, did some research at the
library.  Basically, diets high in sugar rob the body of CP and diets high in
carbohydrates preserve it.  CP boosts insulin response in those prone to
diabetes.  Broccoli is higher than average in CP content.  The body cannot
readily absorb all dietary forms, like potatoes.  Rather than gorging cut back
on simple sugars which cause CP excretion.

It does seem reasonable that correcting a glucose tolerance problem could lead
to fat loss (insulin is an anabolic hormone).  Taking CP to me is just like
taking any other dietary supplement, stay within the recommended limits and no
harm is supposed to occur.  Take a look at the list of vitamins and minerals
on some bottles and you will usually find 50 Micrograms of CP.
CP may help you, but if your body doesn't need it
nothing will happen except your wallet will be a little lighter.  I hope this
helps you make a decision and sorry it ended up so long.  By the way, I buy my
CP at Walmart in 60 tablet bottles for < $5.00.

I also should probably add that I have not changed my present diet or training
regimen. I am training for a marathon Oct 3 and I am presently at 40 + miles a
week.

Ken
Newsgroups: misc.fitness