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thanks for all the chromium info. i think i’ll keep spending my money on bulk animal crackers instead– in the meantime, anyway.

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those who already have a relatively low % body fat? and, what is the recommended dosage? is megadosing ok?

I had considered trying the chromium supplement too, but have held off because I have been unable to find any data on either toxic dose level or the storage/passage of unutilized chromium which could result in a toxic level over time. –Lou

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Here are some great articles I have come across pertaining to the effects of  Chromium Picolinate and Carnitine on fat loss and preservation of lean muscle tissue. etc., etc., etc

(original post deleted) The research on chromium picolinate and l-carnitine is interesting to read.  The controversy rages on.  A few opinions follow.  I’m sure it will be awhile before the flap settle down.  BTW the US Government owns the patent on chromium picolinate.  Do you suppose they started this thread, or perhaps the Nutrition 21 company of San Diego which is licensed exclusively as the sole supplier to the nutrition industry?  Maybe if we all bought $100,000 worth, we could retire the national debt.  Naw, congress would just triple spending and double the debt! On chromium picolinate, the Jan. 1994 issue of "American Running and Fitness" reports: "There’s a much discussed study whose data claim to show that chromium picolinate aids in reducing body fat and building muscle.  This is a widely referred to in magazine advertisements for this product.  But you never read that there have been similar studies in several other laboratories that failed to confirm the report.  I have heard the initial study discussed at several research meeting.  Most experts doubt the work because so far nobody has been able to reproduce the rather striking results claimed.  In fact, I’ve heard a couple of well-known physiologists suggest that the increase in muscle mass claimed in a relatively short time was so large as to be impossible and that the researchers simply didn’t measure accurately the body composition factors they discussed. …" Dr. Michael Colgan in "Optimum Sports Nutrition", 1993 reports that "research with athletes has only just begun, but there are three studies completed."  His conclusion is that "Chromium picolinate will not build you up and slim you down overnight.  But gradually, gradually, a little more muscle and a little less fat is what you might call "the picolinate advantage." " On carnitine, the Feb. 1994 issue of "American Running and Fitness" printed the following article from "Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise", Vol 25, No. 6, pp. 733-740: "One of the latest fads in the search for artificial help to boost performance is L-carnitine.  This compound helps move fatty acids into mitochondria, the power houses in you muscle cells that burn fuels to give energy." "Since burning more fat would slow down the use of your limited carbohydrate store (glycogen), there have been studies on carnitine’s effect on physiological changes during workouts.  But they’ve found either no effect or an effect that was too small to make a real difference in performance.  In spite of advertising claims, there’s still no legal artificial way to boost performance." "A new study by Jocques Decombaz, Ph.D., and colleagues at NestlC Research Center and the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, argued that if carnitine works, you need it most not when you are working out with normal glycogen stores, but when your glycogen store is depleted.  But he found that even under these conditions carnitine did not improve performance. …" "There is only one sure way to learn how to burn fat: good training to improve your oxygen uptake and to increase the concentration of fat-burning enzymes in your muscles.  Beware of claims for products designed to increase fat burning: they won’t work." Dr. Michael Colgan in "Optimum Sports Nutrition", 1993 is more positive on L-carnitine indicating that it boosts VO2 Max and reduces build-up of acids and metabolic wastes during maximal exercise. But he also warns, "Real l-carnitine costs an arm and a leg.  That is why numerous sports supplements contain only a negligible few milligrams. Other supplements contain gram amounts, but is cheap dl-carnitine or racemic carnitine, a very different compound than l-carnitine.  … DL-carnitine is … a toxin that causes carnitine deficiency and all its detrimental consequences." "In 1984, the Food and Drug Administration issued a health warning about dl-carnitine, but it still appears in the marketplace.  Be especially wary of supplements labeled on the front, "L-carnitine" in big letters.  On the back you may find in the tiniest print that is still legal, "in a base of racemic carnitine."  They are all dl-carnitine."

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does anyone know if this chromium supplement is beneficial to those who already have a relatively low % body fat? and, what is the recommended dosage? is megadosing ok? tim UVA

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andrew cook posted the following in rec.bicycles.misc on the subject.  The original article (ad?) in this thread was also posted there.  I am reposting it here with permission from andrew.         well, i thought i’d check this out, since i think this isn’t         the first time it has been posted here.  i looked in the         science citation index and for the last year there were indeed         270 references to this chemical.  most of them (i skimmed a list         of titles) were studies way too complex for me to understand,         but one causght my eye.         i don’t have access to a library, but this is the abstract         from `L-Carnitine – Reasonable and Senseless Substitution of         a Physiological Substance 2′, author A Schek, German language,         in Ernahrungs-Umschau 1994 vol 41 no 2 p 60:           The second part of the review deals with questionable and senseless           application of carnitine supplements, including those to           high-performance athletes for ergogenic effects suggested by many           studies. Argumentation for carnitine supplementation especially to           improve endurance is refused on biochemical and physiological           grounds. This applies also to beneficial effects of carnitine listed           in promotional campaigns of the pharmaceutical industry. Finally           carnitine preparations including cost are discussed.         which suggests that people should indeed read some of the         scientific (refereed) literature, and not just advertising quotes…         andrew

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Hi everyone! Here are some great articles I have come across pertaining to the effects of  Chromium Picolinate and Carnitine on fat loss and preservation of lean muscle tissue.  I found them to be very interesting and just wanted to pass them along. I have also listed some other books and references at the end of this file along with a couple of good manufacturers of supplements. Supposedly, there are over twelve hundred research papers in the medical community concerning the effects of Chromium Picolinate and l-Carnitine.  Most of the research has been conducted in the past 2 to 3 years. You might want to try an online medical reference service for more in depth information.  (l-Carnitine is used widely in Europe.) Hope this information is helpful! Take Care!  :-)   Source:    Better Nutrition for Today’s Living – March 1992 p.18 Heading:   Chromium Picolinate for Weight Loss – By James F. Scheer Reprinted with permission from Better Nutrition for Today’s Living Copyright Argus Inc, Atlanta Georgia New research indicates that a weight-loss program without the trace mineral chromium may not be a complete success.  Thirty-four men and 117 women in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study demonstrates for the first time that a single supplement – chromium picolinate – can help overweight people lose weight while retaining or increasing muscle. The study was conducted by Gilbert R. Kaats, Ph.D., of San Antonio, Texas, and reported to the recent annual meeting of the American Aging Association. Chromium Picolinate teams with insulin in many other positive activities. It builds muscle like anabolic steroids but without the ugly, health- stealing and sometimes fatal consequences of these drugs.   Chromium Picolinate improves glocose tolerance, thereby lessening the chance of diabetes; promotes growth in children and young adults; speeds wound healing and lessens the chance of infections; decreasing the chance of plaque accumulating in the arteries and slowing or blocking blood flow; and increases the odds of living a longer and healthier life. New studies offer anecdotal evidence that Chromium Picolinate can improve the health of gums, upgrade the reading vision of farsighted older people and reduce elevated blood pressure. How does Chromium Picolinate differ from plain chromium?  With the addition of picolinic acid, a natural chelating agent present in mother’s milk and other sources and thought to be secreted by the human pancreas, chromium is much more absorbable.  And so are iron, magnanese and zinc. Most adult Americans take too little chromium – usually less than the 50 to 200 mcg per day recommended by the National Academy of Sciences. A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture study disclosed that nine out of 10 Americans don’t even ingest the minumum of 50 mcg.  Chromium Picolinate can be taken to augment the trifling amounts of this trace element in highly refined and processed foods. In increasing the efficiency of insulin, Chromium Picolinate can help dieters by lessening sugar cravings, regulating blood sugar better and upping the metabolic rate. Although chromium picolinate reduces cravings for sugar, it should not be regarded as a substitute for self-control.  However, it enhances the effectiveness of a low-fat diet and regular aerobic exercise. Source:   Better Nutrition for Today’s Living – Jan 1991 p.12 Heading:  CARNITINE: Mighty Metabolizers for Weight Loss – Stephen Langer Reprinted with permission from Better Nutrition for Today’s Living Copyright Argus Inc, Atlanta Georgia An unexpected bonus resulted from my putting a heavy-set, middle-aged, male patient on a supplement of carnitine to aid fatty acid metabolism to speed weight loss. "Not only am I losing weight like never before," he told me, "but I feel more alive, more mentally alert, have greater energy and stamina, but best of all, I have heightened sexual interest!" After several months, he quickly lost 38 pounds and was trim and youthful looking again. Nutritional metabolizers are substances that help your body efficiently convert food to energy.  Inefficient conversion results in storage and those unsightly bulges.  Optimal use of such metabolizers can make all the difference between weight loss success and failure. Carnitine, Chromium, amino acids to stimulate the formation of Human Growth Hormone (HGH); the various oils including evening primrose, borage and black currant seed; and medium-chain triglycerides are all might metabolizers for weight loss. Carnitine is an amino acid that helps break down fat deposits in blood vessels and muscles, where it is carried to the cells to be burned. Carnitine is essential for transportin long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, the furnaces of the cell. An article in Medical Hypotheses suggested that carnitine can be a useful substance for dieters.  Carnatine apparently increases the efficiency of fatty acid oxidation, maing low-calorie diets easier to tolerate by reducing hunger pangs and weakness that result from less efficient oxidation of fats. OTHER BOOKS AND REFERENCES ON CHROMIUM PICOLINATE Anderson, R.A., and Kozlovsky, A.S. "Chromium Intake, Absorption and Excretion of Subjects Consuming Self-Selected Diets," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 41:117-1183, 1985. Evans, Gary, Ph.D. "The Effect of Chromium Picolinate on Insulin Controlled Parameters in Humans," International Journal of Biosocial Medical Research, Vol. 11(2):163-180, 1989. Fisher, Jeffrey A., M.D.  The Chromium Program.  New York: Harper and Row, 1990. Metcalfe, Jeff.  "Chromium: A Legal Alternative to Steriod," The Phoenix Gazette, Aug. 1, 1991. "New Clinical Trial Shows that Chromium Picolinate Accelerates Fat Loss, Preserves Muscle," San Diego Union, Nov. 15, 1991. McBride, Judy.  "Chromium is Hard to Come By, Well-Balanced Diet or Not," USDA News, October 21, 1991. Some Good Supplements to Try "Metabotrim" is an excellent product made by a company out of Utah called Interior Design Nutritionals.  It contains both Chromium Picolinate (200 mcg) and L-Carnatine (200 mg) along with vitamins C, B-6 and several other key vitamins and minerals that enhance the body’s utilization of Chromium and Carnitine.  (IDN supplements are known as "top of the line" as far as quality and are well worth the price.  This is the brand I personally take and I can’t say enough good things about them.)  Cost: $26.50 for 30 day supply.  1-800-487-9200 drn#:401266.  It takes about 3 days or so to have it delivered.   A lot of athletes take IDN supplements because 1) the company is liscensed by the Olympic Committee, 2) the supplements are approved for competition and 3) they are used by Florence Griffith and Al Joyner and Kathy Turner. If you’re an athlete, you might be interested in trying their sports supplement containing Chromium Picolinate called "Overdrive".  Kathy Turner beat her previous short track speed skating record by 3 seconds while she was using Overdrive.  It definitely works. Another good company called Twin Labs manufactures "Chromium Picolinate" and "Carnitine" as stand-alone supplements available at General Nutrition Centers (GNC).  The cost is $14.49 for a 30 day supply of Carnitine (250mg) and $8.99 for a 90 day supply of Chromium Picolinate (200mcg).  (A friend of mine took Chromium Picolinate from GNC for a couple months after her pregnancy and lost 15 pounds.  She said it curbed her appetite) "Chromium Picolinate" and "Carnitine" are also both available as as stand-alone supplements at Whole Foods stores.  The cost is $16.95 for 30 day supply of Carnitine (300mg) and $4.95 for 30 day supply of Chromium Picolinate (200mcg). (I have never tried these vitamins, but I have heard they are good.)

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