Why no further research on CrPic in AD?

QUESTION:


Hi Doctor,
I read several articles related to the Duke University research on Chromax® chromium picolinate. I was excited at beginning and then disappointed when I could not find any further research on the subject. I looked through your site and failed to see proofs of patients that can testify sustained recovery or relief. Then I found Nutrition 21, the company makes Chromax is in deep red financially. Can you please tell me if Chromax can achieve sustained benefit to atypical depression? Why there are no extensive reports on these lately?
Thanks,
CF



ANSWER



There has been a further study on chromium picolinate in atypical depression. The conclusions reached from the study were that in adults with atypical depression, 600 micrograms per day of Chromax chromium picolinate helped control appetite and excessive eating, it reduced carbohydrate craving, and it "smoothed out" diurnal variation of feelings (daily mood fluctuations). In those patients with high carbohydrate craving, chromium picoliante improved overall HAM-D-29 depression scores.



Several of my patients have taken chromium picolinate for a decade and have been depression free.


I wish there were a study in which depressed patients with carbohydrate craving and increased appetite were given chromium picolinate. Will this happen? I'm afraid not. It's a matter of money. Because chromium picolinate is readily available and is inexpensive, pharma companies are not interested in supporting such research.



Thank you so much for your question.

MM

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