Polynicotinate is a form of chromium supplement which is often promoted for weight loss and athletic performance enhancement. Chromium polynicotinate has a variety of other medicinal uses as well such as treating diabetes and reducing heart-disease risks. Before you begin taking chromium polynicotinate supplements, consult your doctor to discuss the potential dangers and correct dosage.
Types
Chromium is an essential trace element that your body needs to regulate your blood-sugar levels and insulin usage, among other actions. Several different types of chromium are available in supplement form. In addition to chromium polynicotinate, chromium also comes in the forms of chromium chloride, chromium 3, chromium acetate and chromium picolinate. You can find chromium in the form of brewer's yeast as well.
Function
Although your body needs only minuscule amounts of chromium for overall health, the trace mineral is crucial to several important bodily functions. Chromium acts as a "cofactor" to insulin, helping to allow glucose to pass through cell membranes. Through this function, chromium helps to normalize your blood-glucose levels and improve the use of insulin. The trace element is also important to your body's metabolism of fats or lipids. This action may help to lower your triglyceride and LDL or "bad cholesterol" levels, while increasing your HDL or "good cholesterol" levels. Chromium is naturally found in animal fats and meats -- particularly organ meats like liver -- brewer's yeast, wheat germ, fruit, fish, American cheese, whole grains, and brown sugar.
Effects
Chromium supplements are often marketed for weight-loss and athletic-performance enhancement. For weight loss, chromium polynicotinate appears to have some possible "fat-burning" effects, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Chromium may also improve physical strength and stamina. However, no conclusive medical research supports the use of chromium supplements for these purposes.
Other Uses
Chromium polynicotinate effective for treating a chromium deficiency. MedlinePlus also states that chromium is "possibly effective" to help treat diabetes, abnormal glucose tolerance and insulin resistance.
Chromium supplements are sometimes used to help reduce the risk of heart disease. You may experience some health benefits from taking chromium polynicotinate if you have depression, high cholesterol, migraines, psoriasis, metabolic syndrome, hypoglycemia or acne. Chromium supplements may potentially help treat polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, prevent heart attacks and treat Turner's syndrome. However, there is insufficient evidence to rate its effectiveness for any of these conditions. Talk with your physician before taking chromium polynicotinate for any medicinal use.
Warning
Taking excessive doses of chromium polynicotinate could cause bone-marrow, kidney and liver damage, particularly in people who already have kidney or liver disease. If you take insulin or oral diabetes medications, your doctor may need to reduce your dosage while you're also taking chromium). While taking chromium polynicotinate, you could experience side effects like dizziness, difficulty thinking, impaired coordination, nausea, headaches, moodiness and skin irritation. Don't take chromium supplements if you have a chromate or leather-contact allergy. Talk with your doctor before taking chromium if you have a psychiatric condition like depression, anxiety or another type of mental illness, because chromium can affect your neurotransmitters.
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