1. CHROMIUM AND INSULIN
SENSITIVITY
PANAGIOTIS ANDREAKOS
MEDICAL SCHOOL ,
NATIONAL & KAPODISTRIAN UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

2. -CHROMIUM AS A CHEMICAL ELEMENT (AN , isotypes ,origins)
chromium cytotoxicity (lung cancer etc) +
required levels of chromium consumption (
new RDA)
PHYSIOLOGY : INSULIN  tissues-goals(liver, fat tissue ,muscles)
as a growth factor( others GH,IGF-1,IGF-2…)
origin(b-cells of endocrine pancreas etc)
PATHOLOGY :  diabetes a, b ,insulinoma
 molecular mechanism, specific
molecular pace
therefore, chromium increases
Insulin sensitivity
how can chromium enhance exercise
results and in what way
DIETARY PYRAMID

3. INTRODUCTION
• Chromium is a chemical element which is
symbolized Cr ,its atomic number is 24 and it
is the first chemical element of group 6
• Its name derives from the greek word
chroma which means color(ΧΡΩΜΑ)

4. INTRODUCTION 2
• Trivalent chromium is important in trace amounts for
sugar and lipid metabolism , however its complete
extraction from the diet does not often lead in
chromium deficiency .
• In larger amounts of trivalent chromium or in other
forms , such as hexavalent chromium ,chromium can
be toxic or even carcinogenic
• NEW RDA FOR CHROMIUM: “ The US dietary
guidelines for adequate daily chromium intake were
lowered in 2001 from 50–200 µg for an adult to 30–
35 µg (adult male) and to 20–25 µg (adult female) “

5. INTRODUCTION 3
• . Exposure to hexavalent Cr compounds is
strongly associated with increasing risk of lung
cancer. Extensive research at DNA level
indicated that generation of ROS from the
reduction of Cr(VI) leading to DNA damage is
the major cause of the toxicity and
carcinogenicity of Cr(VI).
• Lei T, He QY, Cai Z, Zhou Y, Wang YL, Si LS, Cai Z, Chiu JF.
Source : Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Xi'an
Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. (NCBI)  The
abstract

6. WHAT ABOUT INSULIN???
•  polypeptide hormone produced by endocrine part of
pancreas (b-cells)
•  central biological role : regulation of carbohydrate and
fat metabolism
• main tissue- goals : fat ,muscle, liver
•  regulates DNA replication via control of amino acid cell
intake
• growth factor : others : GH, IGF-1 ,IGF-2, estrogens,
androgens , prolactin etc

7. PATHOLOGY RELATED TO INSULIN
• DECREASED EXCRETION
diabetes mellitus  type 1 Autoimmune-mediated destruction
type 2 of b-cells that leads to insulin
deficiency or absence.
•  INCREASED EXCRETION Metabolic disorder that leads either to
insulin insufficiency or to increased
insulinoma insulin resistance and therefore
HYPERGLYCEMIA.
Tumor of b-cells derived from
Islets of Langerhans which produces
excess amount of insulin and is not
regulated as strictly as required
by glucose blood level.

8. CHROMIUM MODE OF ACTION ON
INSULIN PATHWAY
INSULIN PATHWAY

9. CHROMIUM MODE OF ACTION ON
INSULIN PATHWAY 2
Chromium Activates Glucose Transporter 4
Trafficking and Enhances Insulin-Stimulated
Glucose Transport via a Cholesterol-Dependent
Mechanism

10. DIETARY PYRAMID
CHROMIUM IS INCLUDED IN
FOOD DERIVED FROM ALL
PYRAMID SCALES

11. CONCLUSION
• Chromium trivalent is essential for lipid and
sugar metabolism and acts on insulin pathway.
Through this mechanism, glucose cell intake
and glycogen synthesis is elevated.
• Therefore , chromium III is very likely to
enhance exercise performance and especially
aerobic exercise.(elevated rate of glycogen
stock)

12. BEWARE!!!!!!
PHYSICAL
EXERSISE
WITHOUT
SUPPLEMENTS