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