Chromium (hair)

Hair Chromium (Cr) is a good indicator of tissue levels and may provide a better indication of status than do urine or blood plasma/serum (Nielsen, F.H. In Modern Nutrition on Health and Disease; 8th Edition, 1994. Ed. Shils, Olson and Shike. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia). Hair Cr is seldom affected by permanent solutions, dyes and bleaches.

Cr (trivalent) is generally accepted as an essential trace element that is required for maintenance of normal glucose and cholesterol levels; it potentiates insulin function, i.e., as a part of ”glucose tolerance factor”. Deficiency conditions may include hyperglycemia, transient hyper/hypoglycemia, fatigue, accelerated atherosclerogenesis, elevated LDL cholesterol, increased need for insulin and diabetes-like symptoms, and impaired stress responses. Marginal or insufficient Cr is common in the U.S., where average tissue levels are low compared to those found in many other countries. Low hair Cr appears to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and an atherogenic lipoprotein profile (low HDL, high LDL). Common causes of deficiency are ingestion of highly processed foods, inadequate soil levels of Cr, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and insufficient vitamin B-6. Cr status is also compromised in patients with iron overload/high transferrin saturation because transferrin is a major transport protein for Cr.

Confirmatory tests for Cr adequacy include glucose tolerance and packed red blood cell elements analysis.

Hair Chromium is a good indicator of tissue levels and may provide a better indication of status than do urine or blood/serum.

Chromium is generally accepted as an essential trace element that is required for maintenance of normal glucose and cholesterol levels; it potentiates insulin fucnction. 

Deficiency conditions may include hyperglycemia, transient hyper/hypoglycemia, fatigue, accelerated atherosclerogenesis, elevated LDL cholesterol, increased need for insulin and diabetes-like symptoms, and impaired stress responses. 

Marginal or insufficient Chromium is common in the US, where average tissue levels are low compared to those found in many other countries. Low hair Chromium appears to be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and an atherogenic lipoprotein profile (low HDL, high LDL). 

Common causes of deficiency are ingestion of highly processed foods, inadequate soil levels of Chromium, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and insufficient vitamin B-6. Chromium status is also compromised in people with iron overload/high transferrin saturation, because transferrin is a major transport protein for Chromium. 

Confirmatory tests for Chromium adequacy include glucose tolerance and packed red blood cell elements analysis. 

A high hair chromium (Cr) level is likely to indicate excess exposure to Cr. Hair Cr levels do not appear to be affected by permanent solutions, dyes, or bleaches, but external contamination is possible. Trivalent Cr is considered to be an essential trace element with a low order of toxicity. Cr toxicity via oral ingestion is not likely. However, it is noteworthy that excessive self-supplementation has been reported to be associated with insomnia and increased unpleasant dream activity in some individuals (J. Nutr. Med.; 3(43), 1992).

Phytates decrease oral assimilation of Cr+3, whereas nicotinic acid and vitamin C increase absorption of Cr+3, zinc, vanadium and iron compete with Cr for absorption. In contrast, hexavalent Cr compounds are considerably more toxic and are primarily absorbed via inhalation as a result of industrial exposure. Industrial exposure to high amounts of Cr has been reported to be associated with allergic dermatitis, skin ulcers, bronchitis, and lung and nasal carcinoma. Elevated hair Cr levels have also been observed in patients with cerebral thrombosis and cerebral hemorrhage.