Chromium And Prostate Health

Chromium is a metallic element. Chromium plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. Dr. Anderson, a nutritional research scientist with the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service has, for decades, studied chromium's role in glucose and lipid metabolism. His research supports the theory that without adequate chromium, insulin evidently becomes ineffectual. Studies have provided evidence that shows that Chromium may have the effect of normalizing blood sugar levels.

It is clear that chromium enhances insulin's activity, and is crucial to normal glucose and lipid metabolism. Scientists, including Dr. Anderson and his colleagues, are actively seeking to understand precisely how chromium renders this assistance. A possible theory is that as glucose piles up in the bloodstream, the pancreas produces ever-greater amounts of insulin, to little avail without the presence of chromium. It is believed that chromium acts like a doorman while insulin escorts glucose to doors in the cell membrane. Chromium rings the doorbell, and perhaps holds the door open by activating receptors. Insulin is then able to carry glucose into the cell. Without chromium's help, membrane portals simply fail to open.

Dr. Robert Atkins, the founding father of the low-carb revolution, called chromium the most pivotal nutrient involved in sugar metabolism. Dr. Atkins went on to point out more than 90% of all Americans are deficient. Besides chromium's beneficial effect on glucose and insulin levels, studies also theorize that chromium may lower harmful total cholesterol and triglycerides, while raising beneficial HDL cholesterol. There is even evidence to suggest that chromium promotes fat loss and lean muscle mass retention.

Higher Risk of Prostate Disorders May Be Related to High Blood Sugar Levels
Men with chronic high blood sugar and those who are obese are at elevated risk of suffering of BPH, or benign prostate hyperplasia. Dr. J. Kellogg Parsons from the University of California San Diego and his research team studied more than 400 adult males between the ages of 27 and 84. Their findings indicate that diabetics were more than twice as likely to have prostate enlargement as compared to men without diabetes.

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, July 2006. They also found the rate of prostate enlargement among those patients with high blood sugar was 3 times higher while obese patients suffered a 3.5 times higher risk of BPH. According to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center obesity is associated with an 80 percent increase in the risk of high-grade, aggressive prostate cancer.

Dr. Anderson notes, The dietary chromium intake of most individuals is considerably less than the suggested safe and adequate intake. Consumption of refined sugar further depletes chromium stores. As sugar intake increases, more chromium is expended by the body in an effort to metabolize that sugar, resulting in a spiraling need for still more chromium. Chromium supplementation is being studied by many reputable scientists and physicians as an important tool in the war on diabetes and obesity.

Natural Food Sources
Whole grains and mushrooms contain trace amounts of chromium only if they are grown in soil containing the mineral. Seafood and some meats may contain chromium only if the source animals ate foods containing chromium. By far, brewer's yeast is the only food source rich in this essential nutrient but its taste does not appeal to most people. This is why many health experts are recommending Chromium supplements.