How to Take Chromium GTF (glucose Tolerance Factor) Supplement

CHROMIUM DIET
Chromium works with insulin to drive sugar from your blood into the tissues of your body for use or storage. This mineral is so important in sugar tolerance that severe deficiences of it cause a diabetes-like illness to develop

Chromium, a mineral trace element, is essential to nutrition and physiologic processes. It is involved in the metabolism of glucose, which is necessary for energy. Sometimes chromium is referred to as the glucose tolerant factor or GTF. This mineral maintains stable blood sugar levels by properly utilizing insulin. Insulin is important for the body to be able to metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Chromium can be found in variety of foods such as wheat germ, cheese, brewer’s yeast, and grape juice. The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for chromium will vary depending on your age, health, and body size. Pregnant or lactating women will require more chromium.
The RDA for chromium per day is as follows:
• Birth to 3yrs – 10 to 80 mcg
• 4 yrs to 6 yrs – 30 to 120 mcg

CHROMIUM FOR DIABETICS
Dr. Anderson followed 180 men and women with Type II diabetes. Researchers divided the subjects into three groups, each receiving twice daily doses of either 200 mcg or 500 mcg of chromium or a placebo. The patients were allowed to continue with their usual diet and medications. At the end of two months, those who took 1,000 mcg of chromium daily showed significant improvement in insulin response, the number if insulin receptors, and levels of blood lipids (fats and cholesterol)0.

It took four months the group taking 400 mcg chromium daily to improve as much as the higher dosage group. However, all the patients taking chromium showed measurable improvement in their diabetes-related symptoms.

CHROMUIM AND DIABETES.
For diabetic, it is clear that 200 µg of Cr as Cr chloride is not sufficient to elicit a positive response in those with Type 2 Diabete. The studies of Sherman and Rabinowitz with 150 µg of Cr as CrCl3 showed no effects of supplemental Cr.
The positive effect of 200 µg as CrCl3 in the study of Uusitupa on 60-minute insulin is questionable; moreover, the remaining variables measured were not altered by supplemental Cr.

The studies that report positive effects of supplemental Cr on people with diabetes usually involve 400 µg or more of Cr. Mossop [31] reported a decrease in fasting glucose from 14.4 mmol/L to 6.6 mmol/L following 16 to 32 weeks of daily supplementation with 600 µg of Cr as Cr chloride. Nath reported positive effects with 500 µg/day, and Glinsmann and Mertz used up to 1000 µg/day of Cr as Cr chloride.

Abraham reported positive effects on blood lipids with 250 µg/day, but it took 28 to 64 weeks for effects to be significant. The reasons for the slow response may be due to the form and amount of Cr.


Who benefits from this valuable mineral and how much do they need?

1. Healthy individuals: at least 80 mcg per day
2. Anyone with diabetes or hypoglycemia: at least 200 mcg two to three times daily (check with cardiovascular disease: at least 200 mcg twice a day. Based on human studies, 1,000 mcg daily is the most effective dose for people with diabetes
3. Anyone with cardiovascular disease: at least 200 mcg twice a day
4. Those who exercise regularly or are under stress: 200 mcg per day, minimum
5.Pregnant and nursing women: 200 mcg daily

USDA STATEMENT ABOUT CHROMIUM
American Diabetes Association says most diabetics get enough chromium, USDA researcher Richard Anderson says studies show about 90 percent of diabetics and the general population do not. Virtually all adults, Anderson says, could benefit from taking 50-200mcg of chromium daily. Though the USDA's Chinese study used 1,000mcg, most diabetics need only 400-600mcg of chromium daily. Typically, blood sugar improves within three weeks, some within a few days; improvement was greatest after four months.

Source : The Chromium Connection by Betty Kamen, PhD ($12.95, Nutrition Encounter, 1996) ♦ Chromium, Exercise and Body Composition by Harshita Koble and Stella Volpe, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2000 ♦ "Chromium in the Prevention and Control of Diabetes" by Richard A. Anderson, PhD, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 1998 ♦ "Chromium, Glucose Intolerance and Diabetes" by Richard A. Anderson, PhD, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 1998 ♦ "Diet and Exercise Are Found to Cut Diabetes by Over Half" by Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 8/9/01 Insulin, Glucose Intolerance and Diabetes..." by Richard A. Anderson, Biological Trace Element Research, 2001


NOTES:
One Sachet of GT&F is contains about 200mcg Trivalent Chromium
Two (2) capsule of GT&F tablet are contains about 200mcg Trivalent Chromium also.