Chromium Deficiency

Chromium deficiency was reported in three patients on long-term intravenous feeding who did not receive supplemental chromium in their intravenous solutions. These patients developed evidence of abnormal glucose utilization and increased insulin requirements that responded to chromium supplementation. Additionally, impaired glucose tolerance in malnourished infants responded to an oral dose of chromium chloride. Because chromium appears to enhance the action of insulin and chromium deficiency has resulted in impaired glucose tolerance, chromium insufficiency has been hypothesized to be a contributing factor to the development of Type 2 diabetes

Several studies of male runners indicated that urinary chromium loss was increased by endurance exercise, suggesting that chromium needs may be greater in individuals who exercise regularly. In a more recent study, resistive exercise (weight lifting) was found to increase urinary excretion of chromium in older men. However, chromium absorption was also increased, leading to little or no net loss of chromium as a result of resistive exercise.

At present, research on the effects of inadequate chromium intake and risk factors for chromium insufficiency are limited by the lack of sensitive and accurate tests for determining chromium nutritional status.

The Adequate Intake (AI)

Because there was not enough information on chromium requirements to set a recommended dietary allowance (RDA), the Food and Nutrition Board set an adequate intake level (AI) based on the chromium content in normal diets.

Adequate Intake (AI) for Chromium
Life Stage	Age	Males (mcg/day)	Females (mcg/day)
Infants	0-6 months	0.2	0.2
Infants	7-12 months	5.5	5.5
Children	1-3 years	11	11
Children	4-8 years	15	15
Children	9-13 years	25	21
Adolescents	14-18 years	35	24
Adults	19-50 years	35	25
Adults	51 years and older	30	20
Pregnancy	18 years and younger	-	29
Pregnancy	19 years and older	-	30
Breastfeeding	18 years and younger	-	44
Breastfeeding	19 years and older	-	45

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