Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 15845

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Chromium useful in dysthymia

Posted by andrewb on November 27, 1999, at 20:19:53

Here is an interesting article.
----------------------------
From Nurses' Drug Alert(r)

Title: Chromium Useful in Dysthymia

[Nurses' Drug Alert 23(6):45,46, 1999. (c) 1999 M.J. Powers & Co. Publishers]

Chromium picolinate supplementation was effective in 5 patients with dysthymia (chronic
mild depression, often treatment-resistant).

A 50-year-old man with a 25-year history of dysthymic disorder, had only partial response with
sertraline. He began taking a vitamin-mineral supplement, and within days his dysthymia
resolved completely. After informing his psychiatrist, the patient agreed to stop taking the
supplement and undergo separate, single-blind re-introductions of each of its 5 major
ingredients. His symptoms returned during the supplement washout and disappeared again
during administration of chromium picolinate, 200 mcg/day. The patient ended the trial
prematurely on his own initiative, and insisted on knowing which supplement ingredient was
responsible for his dramatic remission. He then began taking chromium picolinate and
eventually discontinued sertraline. He switched to another preparation, chromium
polynicotinate, and remained euthymic after 15 months of chromium monotherapy.

Single-blind trials of chromium were then instituted in 4 other patients with
antidepressant-resistant dysthymia. Each had an inadequate response to either sertraline,
fluoxetine, nortriptyline, or bupropion with lithium. Chromium was added to ongoing
medication in 3 patients, and was used as monotherapy in the fourth. In all cases, at least 1
other disguised nutritional supplement was used as a control; in some cases, chromium was
withdrawn and re-introduced multiple times. Without exception, mood symptoms resolved
during use of chromium and returned upon its discontinuation. One patient reported side effects
of insomnia and increased dreaming, which resolved when the supplement was taken in the
afternoon. Two other patients also reported increased dreaming, which resolved spontaneously
within 2 weeks in both cases.

Chromium, which enhances peripheral glucose metabolism, may improve mood by increasing
glucose utilization in the CNS. Evidence suggests that chromium may also enhance
monoaminergic neurotransmission and serotonin synthesis. Chromium picolinate
supplementation has been studied for 3 decades and appears to be safe at dosages up to 1
mg/day, higher than the 200-400 mcg dosages used in these 5 patients. A test for chromium
deficiency does not exist at present.

References

McLeod M, et al: Chromium potentiation of antidepressant pharmacotherapy for
dysthymic disorder in 5 patients. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1999;60
(April):237-240. From the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel
Hill.

 

Re: Chromium; correction

Posted by andrewb on November 27, 1999, at 22:55:07

In reply to Chromium useful in dysthymia, posted by andrewb on November 27, 1999, at 20:19:53

I believe there is an error in this article. The dosage should read 200-400 mcg instead of mg. [correction made --Bob]

 

Re: Chromium; correction

Posted by JohnL on November 28, 1999, at 5:42:55

In reply to Re: Chromium; correction, posted by andrewb on November 27, 1999, at 22:55:07

> I believe there is an error in this article. The dosage should read 200-400 mcg instead of mg.

Hi Andrew. Once again you bring some really interesting stuff to this board. I checked my vitamins. One has no chromium. The other has 50mcg...clearly not enough according to the info in your post. Hmmmm. Makes me wonder. I love things that are so easy and cheap to try, with nothing to lose. :)

 

Re: Chromium useful in dysthymia

Posted by anita on November 29, 1999, at 9:25:49

In reply to Chromium useful in dysthymia, posted by andrewb on November 27, 1999, at 20:19:53

I used chromium pic. for about a month once for blood sugar problems and I didn't notice any difference in my depression, but then again not much works for me :-(

I've forgotten the dose I took, but I assume it was whatever was recommended on the bottle. Interesting study, tho. Maybe this person's depression was related to a blood sugar problem like hypoglycemia?

anita

 

Re: Chromium and chromosone(sp?)damage

Posted by CarolAnn on November 29, 1999, at 9:53:21

In reply to Chromium useful in dysthymia, posted by andrewb on November 27, 1999, at 20:19:53

I used 200mcgs. chromium several years ago for almost a year, I was taking it to help control my weight, so I can't remember if it helped my depression. What I can remember is the reason I stopped taking it: I read a report that long term chromium usage had been proven to cause chromosonal changes in the body, specifically damaged chromosones. They didn't conclude what this actually meant to the individual, but since I knew that I wanted to get pregnant the next year, I didn't want to take any chances with my or my baby's chromosones.CarolAnn

 

Re: Chromium and chromosone(sp?)damage

Posted by andrewb on November 29, 1999, at 10:51:23

In reply to Re: Chromium and chromosone(sp?)damage, posted by CarolAnn on November 29, 1999, at 9:53:21

> I used 200mcgs. chromium several years ago for almost a year, I was taking it to help control my weight, so I can't remember if it helped my depression. What I can remember is the reason I stopped taking it: I read a report that long term chromium usage had been proven to cause chromosonal changes in the body, specifically damaged chromosones. They didn't conclude what this actually meant to the individual, but since I knew that I wanted to get pregnant the next year, I didn't want to take any chances with my or my baby's chromosones.CarolAnn

What you refer to is a study with rats showing chromium PICOLINATE could cause chromosone damage. The smae study also indicated that other forms of chromium are safe. In sum, the study did not prove that chromium picolinate is unsafe for humans, but to be safe get your chromium in another form.

 

Re: Chromium and chromosone(sp?)damage

Posted by Renee on December 6, 1999, at 0:26:18

In reply to Re: Chromium and chromosone(sp?)damage, posted by andrewb on November 29, 1999, at 10:51:23

> > I used 200mcgs. chromium several years ago for almost a year, I was taking it to help control my weight, so I can't remember if it helped my depression. What I can remember is the reason I stopped taking it: I read a report that long term chromium usage had been proven to cause chromosonal changes in the body, specifically damaged chromosones. They didn't conclude what this actually meant to the individual, but since I knew that I wanted to get pregnant the next year, I didn't want to take any chances with my or my baby's chromosones.CarolAnn
>
> What you refer to is a study with rats showing chromium PICOLINATE could cause chromosone damage. The smae study also indicated that other forms of chromium are safe. In sum, the study did not prove that chromium picolinate is unsafe for humans, but to be safe get your chromium in another form.

I tried this for a week or so about two years ago. It gave me abdominal pain. It took me a few worried days to figure out what was causing the pain. As soon as I stopped taking it, the pain was gone. I don't remember the dose, probably whatever they print on the bottle.


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