Chromium

Chromium Claims

  • Helps maintain / support healthy blood sugar / glucose

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps regulate blood sugar levels and support healthy glucose metabolism. During pregnancy, an adequate intake of chromium is important for maintaining healthy blood glucose levels in both the mother and her baby. 

Here are a few ways chromium helps maintain healthy blood sugar:

  • Chromium helps insulin function properly. Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar by facilitating the uptake of glucose from the bloodstream into cells. Chromium aids in the action of insulin by helping insulin bind to insulin receptors on cells. This allows insulin to more effectively regulate blood sugar levels.
  • Chromium also helps control blood sugar by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin. As insulin sensitivity decreases during pregnancy, chromium can help restore sensitivity and allow insulin to work more efficiently at lowering blood glucose levels. This helps prevent high blood sugar and the development of gestational diabetes.
  • Chromium also assists in carbohydrate and fat metabolism, which helps balance blood sugar. The food that we eat is broken down to release glucose that enters the bloodstream. Chromium helps coordinate these metabolic pathways so glucose is either used for energy or properly stored to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

In summary, chromium supports healthy blood sugar in pregnancy through helping insulin function, increasing insulin sensitivity and assisting metabolic processes. An adequate intake of chromium-rich foods like brewer's yeast, eggs and cheese or chromium in a prenatal supplement can help support optimal blood glucose levels and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes in expectant mothers.

References:

 

Braun, L., & Cohen, M. (2014). Herbs & Natural Supplements – An Evidence-Based Guide. Elsevier.

Gropper, S., Smith, J., & Groff, J. (2009). Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism (5th ed.). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

NHMRC. (2014). Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. https://www.nrv.gov.au/nutrients/chromium (accessed November 28, 2023).