Alzheimer's response to chromium

Some months ago, the daughter of a man who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, wrote to me that she had read Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection and was intrigued by my discussion of insulin resistance and its symptoms. Her father and other family members were troubled by insulin resistance, especially carbohydrate craving and a tendency to develop type 2 diabetes. She suspected a connection between type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease and wondered if chromium might help people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. I replied that people with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but I didn't know whether chromium would help her father. I asked her to let me know whether he responded to chromium. Recently she answered:

Hello Dr. McLeod,

Yes, I do think that chromium seems to have helped my father. Several months ago, when I first mentioned the possible benefits of chromium for Alzheimer's to him, he agreed to try it, but at that point I knew it was probably beyond his capability to remember to actually go out and buy it for himself. So, I bought a few bottles of chromium picolinate and mailed them to him. About a week later I asked him if he was actually taking the tablets that I sent him, and found out that he had completely forgotten about it. It turns out, he had put the bottle of chromium on the kitchen counter, and had somehow gotten it mixed up in his mind and thought he was supposed to take it in case of bird flu! I finally convinced him to start taking the tablets and explained all over again how it could help him, and at that point, with additional coaxing on my part, he did start to take chromium every day, both morning and afternoon.

These seem like subtle but very definite improvements in his memory and ability to execute tasks. I am very grateful to you for writing the book on the benefits of chromium, and explaining the scientific reasons of why it works. I see more and more information in the press lately about the link between insulin resistance and Alzheimer's, and the latest research demonstrates a link between obesity and Alzheimer's. I think that you are far ahead of most physicians in your knowledge of the benefits of chromium and how it is a key component of the puzzle of atypical depression, insulin resistance, diabetes, and now possibly Alzheimer's.

Thank you very much,
PS

Magnesium for depression

Questions:
Dear Dr. McLeod,
I have a history of atypical depression and I have read your book with great interest. There is so much information about nutritional supplementation and depression that it a little overwhelming. For example, I've also read about magnesium supplementation for treatment-resistant depression. What is your view about the importance of magnesium, or have you recommended a chromium-only approach to your clients? Thanks for sharing your work with the general public.
D. C.

Answer: My short answer is: I don't have any solid evidence that magnesium helps with mood. But some trace metals, of which magnesium is one, do have effects on mood, so it would not surprise me to learn that magnesium does as well. We know, for example, that the trace metal, lithium, is clinically efficacious in the treatment of mania, depression, and there is some evidence that it prevents suicide. (See Dr. Frederick Goodwin's book Manic Depressiove Illness.) And, I accidentally discovered that the transitional metal, chromium, exerts mood effects.

I am positive that lithium and chromium help mood. I suspect that magnesium might help mood as well, but at this time I'm only guessing about magnesium. I hope future research will shed some light on this topic.

Thank you for contacting me with this most interesting question.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Does chromium cause liver damage?

I received the following e-mail:

"Dear Dr Mcleod

I have just read your very interesting book: `The Chromium Connection’ following a recommendation by UK-based nutritionist Patrick Holford in his newsletter.

I don’t know whether Chromium will help me or not as my symptoms are not as extreme as some you’ve highlighted. I have low blood sugar much of the time and quite bad sugar cravings (mainly chocolate) but am not particularly overweight. I have a history of depression, which on two occasions was severe but most of the time is moderate.

The reason for writing is that routine blood tests some years ago detected moderately elevated liver enzymes and they remain raised. The consultant who has seen me is not unduly concerned (having carried out various tests) but I am worried about taking any supplements if they could in way affect my liver.

I was just wondering whether you feel it is safe to try Chromium.

Yours J"

My answer is in red

Here is my short answer: I think you can safely take chromium picolinate. I advise you not to take chromium polynicotinate.

Here is my long answer: During the early days of my chromium research, I recommended chromium picolinate and chromium polynicotinate. In both preparations, chromium is bound to organic molecules, which helps absorption. Both helped with mood problems.

I soon realized, however, that chromium polynicotinate causes several objectionable side effects. That's because the organic molecule in chromium polynicotinate is niacin, also known as vitamin B3, nicotinic acid, and niacinamide. It is well known that niacin causes several side effects, one of the most serious being elevation of liver enzymes. In other words, it was not the chromium that caused the problem; rather it's the niacin to which chromium was bound.

Other side effects associated with chromium polynicotinate include dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, flushing, warm, tingling of the skin, and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Several of my patients stopped chromium polynicotinate because of dizziness and fainting.

Chromium picolinate does not cause these side effects.

Please give my regards to Patrick Holford.

My best,

Malcolm McLeod

Do I have atypical depression?

Question:
Dr. McLeod

Hi I just found your study and I am going to see if my local bookstore has your book and if they do I am going to get it. If they don't I am going to order it. I wanted to tell you my story and see if you think I might have atypical depression and a deficiencies of chromium. I am 27 and female 5'9 359lbs. I had a great childhood parents stayed together and were happy I was always loved and had lots and lots of family around. I have a huge appetite and do not know why. I crave candy and cookies and cake and bread and pasta and potatoes and french fries that sort of stuff all the time. I feel like I never get enough sleep. I sleep at least 11 hours a day and I could sleep all day if I was able. I am more tired when I wake up in the morning than I am before going to bed. My husband says I am weird that he has never heard of someone who has more energy at night time than they do after a good nights rest. I have gained about 100lbs in the last 2 years and I have seen my doctor and their is no medical condition for the weight gain. I feel like my arms and legs are heavy and they seem hard to lift. I recently woke up feeling weird and strange then I started to get worried then I felt as if I couldn't breath and that I was going to pass out. I was very scared and I knew I was going to die. I called the ambulance and everything looked great, but they took me to the hospital anyway. All my blood work, EKG, O2 sat, blood pressure everything was perfect, no blood clots, no pe nothing. The Doc said he was pretty sure I had a panic attack. It does not take much to hurt my feelings. I have been known to cry easily and I take everyone personal even from my own husband. I also feel as if everyone is mad at me and doesn't like me. I am sorry to keep going on and on. I was wondering if you thought I might have this type of depression. Thank you for any advice you can give me. I recently went to a vegan diet and I have started exercising by walking everyday. Thank you again

C.
Answer:
Dear C.
I cannot give individual advice. You must consult your healthcare professional before acting on any suggestions I'm about to make. But yes indeed, it sounds like you have atypical depression and you sound like a good candidate for chromium. The shortness of breath may be due to sleep apnea, with your abdominal weight pushing up on your diaphragm and making it difficult for you to breathe. Hopefully chromium will curb your food cravings and give you enough energy to exercise and lose weight.
Please let me know if chromium helps you.
My best wishes to you,
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Does chromium cause irritability?

Hi Dr. McLeod,

I am writing from Hawaii and read your wonderful book, "Lifting Depression." I have suffered from depression, anxiety and OCD all my life (starting at a young age). I have tried almost all of the antidepressants in the market with side effects and have tried almost all herbs, minerals, vitamins, etc. I had seen two naturopaths/homeopaths and have tried everything, including homeopathic remedies with little or no relief. I came across info on chromium on the internet and thought it wouldn't hurt to try... As with other things that I have tried, it immediately worked and lasted for the first three days, then I became angry and irritable. I have had these effects with kava, B complex, fish oil, 5-HTP, etc. Then, after I would try the supplements again, I would become immediately angry and irritable. I was told by a naturopath that this was a sign of my liver not being able to process the supplements correctly. After the chromium made me angry and irritable, I was very discouraged because this actually lifted my depression, anxiety, social anxiety and OCD symptoms immediately and I was so happy when it did! But, after a few days, I became very angry and irritable.

Do you have any suggestions? I had a hormone blood test done recently and am awaiting the results. I am 45 and was told that my depression/anxiety/OCD could be worsening because of my being premenopausal...

Thank you for reading this lengthy email. Everytime a supplement works, then stops working, I get really discouraged.... I wonder if I will ever find something that will help me. FYI - I fit in the category of having atypical depression...

Aloha,
A

Dear Ms. A,

I apologize for not answering your email sooner.
While chromium may rarely cause some degree of irritability, we don't know whether chromium is the culprit in your case. You have had the same response with other dietary supplements and herbs.

Please don't neglect exercise, reduction in carbs, and psychotherapy, as they are necessary elements in an overall treatment program.

You might consider reducing the dose of chromium. I would also urge you to take the ChromaxR brand as it is the most tested form of chromium.

Please semd me a followup up.

Regards,
Malcolm McLeod

What form of chromium should I take?

Below is an e-mail I received. It's in red

Dear Dr. McLeod,
A family member suffers from depression and anxiety, so I am continually looking for ways to help her feel better. The drugs don’t seem to help much... and we’ve tried them all.
I have been reading some information about Chromium GTF and why some believe it is much more well absorbed than is the picolinate type of chromium. In fact, they say the GTF form is absorbed 10 to 25 times better than “inorganic chromium”. See quote below:
“Chromium is not naturally found in the body in the commonly supplemented forms such as chromium picolinate, chromium chloride, or chromium chelate. Only 1% or less of inorganic chromium is absorbed vs. 10-25% of chromium GTF.”
Would it be best to take the GTF form? If not, why not?
Thank you!
B.J.

I responded as follows:

Hello B.J.,

Thank you for contacting me.

It is quite true that inorganic forms of chromium, such as chromium chloride, are very poorly absorbed. The two organic forms of chromium -- chromium picolinate and chromium polynicotinate (aka GTF) -- are both well absorbed. I prefer CHROMAX chromium picolinate (which is chelated with picolinic acid) over the polynicotinate preparation (chelated with niacin). Although chromium polynicotinate is well absorbed, I do not recommend it because it causes flusing, dizziness and hyperpigmentation is some patients. These undesirable side effects are caused by niacin.

Please let me know if this helps.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Recent studies on chromium in atypical depression

I received the following e-mail:

The results of the tiny study (on the role of chromium in the treatment of depression), done in 2000, look so promising. Why is it that the http://www.chromiumconnection.com/ has no reference to newer and larger studies?

Did such studies ever occur? I am interested in participating in such a study if one exists. I have been diagnosed under DSM IV with dysthmia and sever depression. I also fit the description for atypical depression. I have been off work for the last year and a half with severe depression. I have tried 6 different MAOI drugs and am currently using Mannerix as I tolerate it well and it provides some relief.

My answer follows:

Thank you for writing to me. There has been a more recent study on the role of chromium picolinate in the treatment of atypical depression.

In 2005, the results of a study of 113 patients, conducted by Comprehensive Neuroscience, were published. This double-blind study further demonstrated chromium's role in reducing crbohydrate cravings in people with the most common type of depression.

I certainly would refer you to a study if one existed, but I don't know of any. Moreover, it is unlikely that very large studies will be conducted further to substantiate chromium's role in depression, as there is not enough profit in neutraceuticals to support the type of large studies funded by pharmaceutical companies.

I hope these comments help.

Malcolm McLeod