ABSTRACT
Chromium (Cr) is a trace mineral which is acquired through the diet and is generally accepted as being nutritionally beneficial for mammals. A biological function for chromium was first suggested in 1954 when Curran reported that chromium enhanced the synthesis of cholesterol and acetate in the rat liver. Measurement of such low Cr concentrations requires that very strict precautions be taken to prevent sample contamination. For this reason, accurate Cr determinations may be best obtained from laboratories expressly designed to carry out such sensitive analysis. Chromium nicotinate is thought to structurally resemble glucose tolerance factor (GTF), contains nicotinic acid which is a component of the GTF, and has been shown to modify glucose homeostasis. Chromium picolinate is a tripicolinate complex which also positively impacts glucose homeostasis. The chromium researcher should be aware that Cr is found virtually everywhere in the environment of the laboratory animal and that such Cr can be taken up and used by the animal.
