The Chromium Connection

Does the combination of an SSRI and chromium help PMS?

2009-07-08T16:57:00.006-04:00

QUESTION:

Hi Dr. McLeod,
I was taking 10 mg. of Prozac for approximately 4 1/2 years for what I thought was difficult PMS. Even with this small dose, I benefited quit a bit and even experienced benefits in areas that surprised me (overall confidence increased dramatically) I went off in January because I started an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) cycle. IVF ended in April and I hit rock bottom. It has taken the last three months to allow the hormones from the IVF to leave my system, and I have to say I feel much better. However, I am still somewhat irritable, blue and am experiencing chronic insecurity. I've come to the conclusion that perhaps I do in fact have low serotonin and perhaps always have. I went back on 10 mg. of Prozac this week.
Here are my questions:
1. Over the long term I gained 10-15 lbs on the Prozac. That was my only side effect but it is a big one and I am very concerned this will happen again. I bought Solgar brand Chromium Picolinate (500 mcg) after reading that it can help with this side effect of an SSRI. Is it safe to take long term along side the Prozac?
2. Are there any other supplements that should be avoided? I also take Asacol for mild ulcerative colitis, is this okay to take with the Chromium Picolinate?
I look forward to reading your answer on the blog.
Sincerely,
R. K.

ANSWER:

Dear Ms. K,

Thank you for contacting me with your interesting and important questions.

Not only is it safe to add chromium, the combination of chromium and Prozac (and other SSRIs) seems to work better than SSRIs alone for PMS and atypical depression. I do not know of any long term ill effects. Some of my patients have taken chromium along with an SSRIs for over a decade with great benefit and no side effects. In some cases, they have NEVER had another difficult period.

There are no reported interactions among chromium, Asacol and Prozac.

In case you don’t already know, women with severe PMS tend to relapse after discontinuing treatment with antidepressant medications, according to a recent study published in the May issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Dr. Dr. Ellen W. Freeman and colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia studied 174 women with severe PMS, known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Some of the women took the antidepressant medication, sertraline, for 4 months and were then switched to a placebo or dummy pill. Other women took sertraline for 12 months and were then switched to placebo. (Sertraline and Prozac are both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.)

Although 72 percent of the 174 women improved while taking sertraline, symptoms returned in roughly half of the women after discontinuation of sertraline.

This study suggests that the more severe your symptoms are before treatment, the greater your likelihood of relapse (return of symptoms) after discontinuation of treatment.

If you decide to add chromium, please let me know if it helps or not. Again, thank you for contacting me.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Chromium for Asperger's Syndrome?

2009-07-05T15:39:00.006-04:00

QUESTION:

Dear Dr McLeod,

My son has Asperger's Syndrome, and his most troublesome symptoms are disordered sleep patterns, depression and anxiety, particularly anxiety. He is underweight, because often he is so anxious he feels nauseous, and doesn't want to eat. He sees a psychologist and talks about the issues that make him anxious and depressed, but talking is not enough and he needs more help. I read somewhere that chromium can help with sleep problems because of its effect on tryptophan, serotonin and melatonin, and also that it can help stressed adrenal glands. Do you think he should try chromium for these reasons, even though he is not overweight? He is reluctant to try antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication because he is frightened of side effects, and fears they might sedate him so much he loses his creativity (he is an artist).

Thank you,
E

ANSWER:
Before making any decision, I suggest you consult your son's physician and run your questions by him or her.

I did have one patient who had a mild case of Asperger's Syndrome: his anxiety and depression did seem to benefit from taking chromium picolinate. I doubt, however, that it helped his underlying Asperger's Syndrome. Like your son, he was thin, very brightand creative. He, too, refused to take antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications for fear they would dull his thinking.

You must not view this one case I am citing as anything other than anecdotal. Moreover, the use of chromium for Asperger's has not been evaluated by the FDA. Chromium is, however, very safe, so that the potential benefits might far outweight any risk.

If you decide to give your son chromium, please let me know the results.

Thank you
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Combination Chromium and Prozac

2009-07-01T06:41:00.001-04:00

Hello again, Dr. McLeod.

I wrote you about a year and a half ago when I started taking chromium. I'm still on it and doing very well. The difference still astonishes me in how much better I am on the combination of Prozac and chromium. The carb cravings are a lot less and my energy level stays stable through the day. I've been able to lose 25 pounds so far, hopefully with more to come. I still need to lose another 30-50 pounds, but the chromium has been a big help so far. My blood pressure has dropped significantly as the result of the weight loss, my blood pressure has dropped from 130/90 to 118/80. I will have to stay disciplined, as even with the carb cravings diminished, I do still love to eat. My GP is pleased that I'm on chromium with my family history of type 2 diabetes, even though I show no clinical symptoms yet. He also treats both of my parents' type 2 diabetes. We've talked about possibly starting me on a low dose of glucophage as a preventive, as since I'm already responding to the chromium, there's already insulin resistance present. One of my friends who has similar depression to mine has started taking it and has had good results and I finally got my dad to start taking it. We both come from a long line of people with depression. He is feeling better too, and our doctor was ecstatic at his last checkup for his type 2 diabetes at his blood sugar and A1C levels. They've dropped significantly since he's been on the chromium.Thanks again for all of your research and work to publicize this treatment. It has made such a big difference in my life.
E.L.

Can chromium reduce need for diabetic drugs?

2009-06-23T07:41:00.008-04:00

I have received numerous emails from people that suggest that chromium might be useful in lowering the dosage of drugs used to treat diabetes. This is not proven, but it certainly is an interesting area for research.
I'm pleased to read that the person is studying this matter with the help of her physician. I would never recommend otherwise.
Here is the letter:

Dear Dr McLeod

Thanks to chromium picolinate (600 ug daily) my mood so well improved. As well as my diabetes 2: Now I am taking only half dose of my oral anti diabetic drug ( Metformin + pioglitazone) under supervision of my physician. And my fasting blood sugar is better than before !. Thank you for all you have discovered.

I am looking forward to your next book.

Best regards
C. A.
France

Another depressed person responds to chromium

2009-05-02T08:41:00.002-04:00

I have received hundreds of emails that support my discovery that chromium is useful in the treatment and prevention of the type of depression associated with carbohydrate craving. Here is the most recent account:

Dear Dr. McLeod,
I came across your website and your book after trying to look for the connection between chromium and depression on the Internet. I was looking to see if there was any information about the connection, because I in fact knew that there was through personal experience, even though I hadn't until today read anything to confirm it. I first started taking Chromium about 2 or 3 years ago in an attempt to stop sugar cravings and lost a bit of weight. I was certain that -- as well as giving me more energy and motivation -- chromium also improved my moods! I suffer from mild Dysthymia and despite knowing why at times I feel 'down and depressed', other times I am simply taken over by feelings of despair, sadness and absolute emptiness. At times these are due to my hormones, I have very high oestrogen, but at other times the feelings just come and go with no reason at all! I can definitely say that Chromium stabilises these feelings and has a 100% positive effect on depression which I recognised a few years ago now. I then stopped taking it, partly because I was feeling better and partly because of the apparent side effects, however for the past 8 months I have gone back to feeling very depressed and just started taking them again today; I can feel the difference already.

Your book will inform many people about the benefits of Chromium, if taken sensibly and with an informed mind set! You may publish my response to chromium on your blog. I hope it will be useful to others. Doctors should suggest chromium instead of anti-depressants which mask feelings!
Best Wishes,
E.N.

Another person with atypical depression responds to chromium

2009-03-21T09:14:00.002-04:00

Dr. McLeod,
I wanted to share with you my story about Chromium Picolinate. I've dealt with very strong sugar cravings most of my life, and on a random recommendation from someone, I decided to try chromium picolinate to see if it would help. Little did I know what it would do for me.
Within two days, I realized it was having an effect on other symptoms that I've struggled with for over 20 years, and have seen doctors about, but to no avail. I've dealt with insomnia (difficulty in falling asleep and being very restless) and fatigue most prevalently; but I've also felt depressed at times and have had mild social anxiety issues for as long as I can remember. I figured the last two were more of a personal failing than biological, but I had been seeking solutions for the first two for quite awhile (medicine, change of diet and exercise, etc.). Some success, but things never quite felt right. So I started taking CrPic, and all of these symptoms cleared up within two days. I felt like I went to sleep and woke up in a new body. This was so odd that I did some research on "chromium and depression" and found your book. I felt like I was reading about myself in your descriptions of atypical depression. It never dawned on me that perhaps there was a description that encompassed the symptoms I've had. I've been waiting for the effects to die off, but fortunately they haven't. My carbohydrate cravings have all but disappeared. It's literally been a life-changer for me. Although I've learned to cope pretty well, I know that my work and social life have felt the effects. And here's something strange that I don't know if you've run into: I've had a habit of biting my nails for over 25 years and I've never been successful in kicking the habit. In the last two weeks, the impulse behind that action has disappeared, and I haven't bitten them since. I don't know if there's a connection to a less anxious and stable mood, but I feel as if there is a biological connection as well. I'm more "settled" internally, such that it seems to have short-circuited the impulse.
One last observation: when I was seeing the doctor about my fatigue awhile back, I had some blood work done and he mentioned that the tests showed that my blood sugar levels were in the pre-diabetic stage. This was another piece of the puzzle that seemed to correspond to atypical depression, and that CrPic was a genuine solution, and not just a placebo.
Thanks very much for your research in this area. I'm convinced it's helping a lot of people.

Name withheld by request

Dear Sir,

Thank you so much for contacting me and telling me your story. I have had many patients who shortly after beginning to take chromium picolinate have responded exactly as you describe, with rapid lifting of carbohydrate craving, lifting of depression, improved sleep and less anxiety. You are the first person who has reported cessation of nail biting. Your explanation – that stopping nail biting is the result of less anxiety—sounds plausible to me.

Again, thank you for sharing your story. I will post it on my blog with the hope that others will see themselves in your account and will derive benefit from CrPic.

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD

Chromium helps carb cravings in atypical depression

2009-02-26T07:30:00.009-05:00

Dear Dr. McLeod
I have been struggling with atypical depression for years. Depression, binge eating due to overwhelming carb cravings, weight gain, oversleeping, debilitating fatigue, extreme sensitivity to rejection... all worsening over the months and years in severity and eventually leading to suicidal ideation. I went on Lexapro which helped keep me alive and allowed me to function from day to day, even though I never felt whole and healed. And it never touched the carb cravings. I eventually added therapy and noticed concrete, steady improvement and the possibility in my mind of eventually achieving long term mental health. Oh, but still those carb cravings. They really wouldn't budge.Then I read an article on Chromium for atypical depression and I decided to try it... 600 mcg qd. Within days I noticed a difference. Within two weeks I had cut my Lexapro from 10 mg qd to 5 mg qd. Within 5 weeks I quit taking the Lexapro altogether. On a scale of 0-100, my carb cravings have dropped from a raging 100 to a very manageable 10. It is the most liberating experience. I thank God for freedom from those chains. Willpower never even entered into that equation. I continue with the therapy, will probably be there for several months more. But thanks to the Chromium I feel I now have real hope, a chance to go forward, do the work I need to do, heal and find real peace. In short, the effect of Chromium on my mental health has felt nothing short of miraculous.Thank you for your work and for allowing me to share that. VC

Dear VC

Thank you so much for contacting me. I have observed reduction in carbohydrate cravings in atypical depression in many patients, and this finding has been confirmed by a large, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study. Moreover, many of my patients, like you, have been able to decrease their antidepressant medications. You might want to add exercise to your regimen.

I read your report to a psychiatric resident whom I supervise. (A resident is a medical-school graduate who is specializing in a particular branch of medicine.) He was impressed and asked, "Why don't more people take chromium?" I told him it's because chromium is not an expensive drug that is "hyped" by big pharma.

I hope your testimonial and that of others will help the word "get around" so that others can be helped. For that reason I wrote Lifting Depression. The second edition will hit the shelves in July of 2009.

Thank you again for contacting me.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Where Can I Find Chromax?

2009-02-05T08:03:00.004-05:00

Hi Dr. McLeod,

I was recently diagnosed with type II diabetes, with a fasting glucose of 150. I am working to control my BG through diet and exercise, and do not take any medication or insulin. I recently added 200 mg of Chromium Picolinate to my vitamins I take daily, and have been shocked to see my blood glucose drop into the non-diabetes range for a few hours whenever I take the supplement. After doing some research online, I am very interested in switching to Chromax to get the full benefit of CrPic. However, I have found in searching online that I cannot find Chromax at Costco, Target, Walgreens, etc, even though these stores are listed on the Chromax website. Is there a shortage of chromax due to its popularity?

Thank you,
M

Dear M,
I'm pleased that your blood sugar is being helped by chromium picolinate. Nutrition 21 recently started packaging Chromax under the label Nutrition 21 Iceland Health Chromax, so if you look on the shelves of many mass retailers, you will see Iceland Health Chromax. Try Walgreens. If you can't find it, please get back in touch and I'll see what I can do.
Malcolm McLeod

Does Chromium Cause Diabetes?

2009-01-28T07:07:00.004-05:00

QUESTION:
Hello,

My coach told me to take 400 mcg of chromium picolinate every night for one month to support weight loss. However my family have the history of diabetics type 2, I am not sure about taking chromium as weight loss supplement. It might make me diabetic? please help me out.

Thanks and Regards
S K

ANSWER:
Your coach is correct that chromium supports weight loss. Several of my patients have lost many pounds after beginning to take chromium. I think that's because chromium gives them more energy and enables them to exercise more.
Your coach is not correct on two points: 1) chromium does not cause diabetes. In fact there is some evidence that chromium delays or prevents the onset of diabetes. 2) Take chromium in the morning. If taken too late in the date, it may cause some difficulty in falling asleep.
Good luck, and thank you for contacting me. I would appreciate a followup.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Can one take CrPic with Strattera and Wellbutrin?

2008-12-11T15:42:00.003-05:00

Hi Dr. McLeod,

Thank you so much for your terrific book and ongoing website & blog.

Here is my primary inquiry at this moment:

My 15 year-old daughter with ADHD and atypical depression is currently taking Strattera 80mg and Wellbutrin XL 300mg (she could not tolerate either stimulants or SSRIs) to decent effect on attention but only partial response on these depressive symptoms: intense sugar & carb cravings; continued rejection sensitivity; reactive moodiness. Her doctor, who sees her for a few minutes once every couple months for medication management only, has said “no problem” to trying the chromium picolinate, but I think mostly because my daughter is not in any crisis and he doesn’t expect the mineral to have any effect one way or the other!

So my question is, how does one go about gauging the effectiveness of Chromax when medications are also being taking? I don’t believe you overtly discuss this possibility in your book, but it occurs to us that if the mineral works, we could actually see negative effects resulting from taking medicines that are no longer needed. What should we be alert to as she begins to take the Chromax?

Thank you for your input,

J

Dear J,

None of my patients have taken both Chromax chromium picolinate and Strattera, so I cannot offer an opinion on that part of your question. I can tell you that several of my patients who have responded to Wellbutrin have had similar beneficial responses to Chromax and vice versa. I suspect that taking Chromax and Wellbutrin together would be more efficacious than either alone. And, yes, you might be able to decrease or discontinue her medications. But notes of caution: 1) if you decide to add Chromax to your daugher's regimen, start at a very low dose, say 50 micrograms daily, and increase gradually; and 2) continue to consult your daughter's psychiatrist to monitor for possible side effects, such as excessive activation and insomnia.

Thank you for your questions. Please let me know what you and your psychiatrist decide to do, and the outcome.

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD

Chromium and St. John's Wort

2008-11-16T09:42:00.003-05:00

Hi Dr. McLeod,

Lately I've been hearing much regarding the positives of taking chromium picolinate for minor depression. Can chromium picolinate be taking at the same time with St. John's Wort? I know, for example, that Xanax taken with St. John's Wort results in the Saint John's Wort removing the Xanax from the body faster, resulting in less absorption of the Xanax in the body. Are there any problems with taking chromium with Saint John's Wort, or chromium with Xanax?

Thanks,
Sam

ANSWER: I don't have enought experience with the combination of chromium picolinate and St. John's Wort (hypericum) to give you a certain answer, but I can tell you that three of my patients (two men and a woman) took the combination and felt awful. The woman's menstrual period was much more difficult than usual. After they stopped St. John's Wort and continued chromium, they felt much better.

I don't know the answer to your second question regarding taking chromium with Xanax.

I would surely welcome any future observation you have about your questions, so I can pass that info along to other readers.

To your good health,
Malcolm McLeod, MD

What Tme of Day Should I Take Chromium?

2008-11-06T07:18:00.002-05:00

Hi Dr. McLeod.

I just ordered a bottle of Chromax, 250 count, from Costco's. I noticed on the label it recommends one 500 mcg pill every day. Would taking 2 pills in one day (one in the morning/one at night) be harmful?

Thank you,
John

Hello John,

It's OK to take two 500 mcg tablet of Chromax per day. I would, however, take one tablet in the morning and a second no later than noon. The second pill should not be taken later than noon because taking it later in the day sometimes causes a little trouble falling asleep.

Thank you for your question. Please let me know the results.

Kind regards,

Malcolm McLeod

Chromium for Adjustment Disorder

2008-11-06T07:08:00.003-05:00

Dear Dr. McLeod,

My question concerns the use of chromium as a supplement for minor anxiety and slight depression resulting from the loss of my job a few weeks back. I've been taking Chromax brand Chromium Picolinate for approximately 12 days straight now, (once a day), but haven't noticed any change. Is chromium picolinate supposed to function like an anti-depressant in that the chromium will affect my overall mood, and can it be used with Saint John's Wort? I feel that I am in more of an emotional rut from losing my job than clinical depression.

Thank you, Dr. McLeod.

Steve

ANSWER:

Dear Steve,

Based on my limited understanding of your difficulties, it does not sound as if you have atypical depression, which responds to chromium. Rather it sounds as if you have what is termed Adjustment Reaction with Anxiety and Depression, which does not respond to chromium. I tend to agree with you that "I feel that I am in more of an emotional rut from losing my job than clinical depression." Your symptoms should clear within a few weeks after the job-loss stress has diminished.

The other point you raise is whether to take chromium with St. John's Wort. I would not suggest that, as several patients have reported that taking the two together makes them feel worse.

I suggest you stop taking St. John's Wort and taking chromium alone. Please let me know if this helps.

Rapidity of Response and Recurrence

2008-10-12T09:10:00.002-04:00

Dr. McLeod,

I have recommended chromium picolinate to two friends (one male, one female) with good results -- both felt much more energetic and much more positive -- although because of safety concerns both are reluctant to go above 500 µg a day despite my assurances that this is perfectly acceptable.

In one case, my friend L has been able to return to work. My other friend -- a political scientist who -- despite being in the middle of a messy divorce -- finds that the Chromax keeps him on an even keel. He has even managed to reduce his antidepressant by half and reckons that when the divorce is finalised he will have the courage to stop it altogether to test whether it is still having a positive effect or not.

Interestingly, at one stage he ran out of the Chromax and his mood and energy levels deteriorated after about five days. He promptly bought another bottle of the supplement and notice how the energy started to flow again on the same day as taking a dose.
Regars and thanks,

S.C
ANSWER
Dear S.C.
Your friend's relapse in 5 days after stopping Chromax sounds very much like the case of George which I presented in Lifting Depression: The Chromium Connection. Just to briefly recap, George added a chromium-rich supplement to his onging antidepressant sertraline with dramatic improvement in one day. He had more enery and his appetite was curbed. I suggested he stop the supplement as a test of the efficacy of chromium. After he stopped the chromium supplement, his symptoms returned within a week. Based on George's rapid response and rapid return of symptoms after discontinuation of chromium, I decide on weekly segments for my initial single-blind studies. That is, he took various supplements for 5 days, Monday through Friday, and nothing on Saturday and Sunday. On the following Monday he would begin a new supplement, and so forth. The only ingredient he responsed to was chromium. In this way we determined the specificity of chromium.

Thank you for this interesting observation.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Can I substitute chromium for lithium?

2008-09-25T08:24:00.002-04:00

Hi Dr McLeod

Dear Dr. McLeod,
Dear Dr McLeod

I am based in the UK and am trying to locate a specialist in the UK with knowledge of conventional medicine and the merits of chromium. Basically I am on lithium and I want to work with somebody who understands conventional medicine and has an awareness of chromium with a view in the medium term to considering substituting one for the other - do you know anybody in the UK with this expertise?

I realise this may not be the type of question that you are happy to answer through the blog. If it was more appropriate, I would be happy to phone you regarding this and pay for a telephone consultation.

Look forward to hearing form you.

Best wishes
PS: I am well and have been well for over 4 years

ANSWER
I'm sure there are many people in the UK who meets your criteria, but I don't know them personally.

As to your second question - whether to substitute chromium for lithium - there is not enough data to answer your question. I do have one patient, himself a physician, who stopped lithium and started chromium with great results. He has been on chromium alone for a decade and his mood has been stable.

If you should decide to substitute chromium for lithium, or add chromium to ongoing lithium therapy, please do so only under the close supervision and guidance of a psychiatrist, who would be able to pick up any early symptoms of depression or mania.

Please let me know what you decide to do and the results. Yours is a most important question and one I've thought about many times, and would like more information on this topic.

Kind regards,

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD

Might my husband have atypical depression?

2008-09-14T08:25:00.002-04:00

QUESTION:
Dear Dr. McLeod,

My husband has been suffering from a chronic form of depression. Recently I read your book. I bought three copies so that I could share them with people I know. In my view he meets almost all of the criteria for atypical depression, although his depression has not been diagnosed as such. His mood often swings. He can look happy and normal when we meet our friends, but he gets into a bad mood the moment we leave our friends and get into our car. He is extremely sensitive to what I say and is easily hurt. The other day I just asked him for his help regarding our son’s school issues. Then he emotionally exploded, became angry and hostile at me, and withdrew from our relationship. It seems he felt blamed for not being a good father. He seems to be extremely sensitive at work, too, especially in relation to his boss and a few of his colleagues. He manages to keep his job for about one to three years, but eventually gets laid off or fired. He sleeps very long hours. He currently works flexible hours, so he usually takes two naps during the day, for about two to four hours in total. At night he goes to bed at about 10:30pm and wakes up at 7am. During weekends he sleeps even longer. The other Sunday he was awake for only eight hours of the day and slept for 16 hours! He is always tired and never seems to feel rested. It is very difficult for him to get out of his bed. It is difficult for us to go out and do various activities in the weekend, because he is usually too tired. He often overeats. It is as though he cannot control his appetite. He eats irregularly, often eating snacks during meals. There were many times when I opened the kitchen cupboard or the freezer to find that a whole bag of tortilla chips or a box of cookies or ice cream were gone, suddenly overnight! These days he likes eating bread. He cannot live without soft drinks and keeps a dozen of two litter diet coke bottles in the garage. He also eats a very large amount of fruits. He struggles to lose weight but he never m
anages to.

Do you think my husband has atypical depression? Do you think chromium would work for him?

Thank you,

N.

ANSWER:
Dear N.
It sounds as if your husband might have atypical depression and a trial of Iceland Health Chromax chromium picolinate is indicated. But first I would suggest he be evaluated by his healthcare professional to rule out other possibilities.

If he agrees to a trail of chromium, please let me know the results.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Where is Chromax?

2008-09-13T10:15:00.005-04:00

QUESTION:

Dear Dr. McLeod,
I'm upset because I can't find Chromax. It has helped me so much with my depression and carb cravings. Not being able to find it frightens me. What has happened to Chromax chromium picolinate?

A.F.

ANSWER:
Dear A. F.
Several people have asked me this same question, including my friends and neighbors. The Chromax chromium picolinate you are familiar with was packaged in a red and blue box. It has been repackaged as Iceland Health Chromax chromium picolinate. It's the same excellent Chromax by Nutrition21 that you are used to. The Chromax is the same. Only the packaging has changed. This was done to reduce advertising costs.

To see a picture of the newly packaged Chromax, click on this link.

Thank you for your question.
Malcolm McLeod

Can chromium help Bipolar 1 disorder?

2008-09-10T07:09:00.002-04:00

QUESTION:

I've read about Chromium helping with atypical depression and have been
referred to you by my sister. I have Bipolar Disorder Type 1. Is
Chromium harmful for people with bipolar disorder? Can it cause mania?
Can it cause rapid cycling?

Thanks for your help.

Mike

ANSWER:
I'm sorry, but I don't know the answer to your question. I wish there were a large study comparing mood-stabilizing agents (for example lithium) with chromium, but there is not.

If you decide to taper off of lithium and substitute chromium, please do so ONLY under the close supervision of your healthcare professional. Please let me know what you decide to do and the results.

Thank you.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Does chromium cause hair loss?

2008-09-02T14:51:00.002-04:00

QUESTION:

Dear Dr. McLeod,

I am very happy to take chromium picolinate ( 400 mcg daily)
concerning my depression. I always feel energetic and am
well-composed with my relationships.
Therefore I was reading on the net some people talking about hair loss
with chromium. What do you think about? Is it a problem of dosage,
anything else or is there no link with the supplement?

Best regards,

A.C.
Paris, France

ANSWER: I am not aware that chromium causes hair loss. I am aware that the mood stabilizing drug, Depakote, can cause hair loss. To treat that, 200 mcg of selenium and 50 mg of zinc per day, is helpful in some people. I wonder if selenium and zinc might stop or reverse your hair loss. Please let me know.

Thank you for your question.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Is it safe to take over 1000 mcg per day of CrPic?

2008-08-16T08:25:00.008-04:00

Dear Dr. McLeod,

I read your recent post about acceptable dosage of chromium and 3 to 5 mcg per body weight. If I apply this to my weight then I get more than 1000mcg, is it ok for me at 295 pounds to take 1475 mcg?

Thanks
A.L., Scotland

ANSWER:
Dear A.L.
Chromium picolinate has a wide margin of safety. Laboratory animals have been given dosages that far exceed the mcg per pound of body weight you are considering, and they have not suffered adverse effects. However, I'm not aware of studies of a large number of people who have taken more than 1000 micrograms per day for long periods of time.

Conclusion: Although I suspect that 1474 mcg per day is safe for you, I suggest you limit your daily intake to 1000 mcg per day until more data is available at higher doses.

It is conceivable that chromium might help you lose weight by increasing your energy level and enabling you to exercise more. Chromium has also been shown to decrease carbohydrate cravings, which might also help you lose weight. This has certainly been the case with many of my patients.

Good luck. Please let me known what responses you might have.
Thank you for your question.

Malcolm McLeod, MD
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

The difference between elemental chromium and chromium picolinate

2008-08-09T16:32:00.003-04:00

Dear Dr. McLeod,

Would you please clarify the difference between elemental chromium and chromium picolinate? The label on my bottle of chromium picolinate indicates 200 mcg of elemental chromium and 1.6 mcg of chromium picolinate. Should I calculate my dosage on the basis of elemental chromium or chromium picolinate?

I am eager to read your response. Thank you.

A.W.

ANSWER

Dear A.W.

Your question is excellent. Thank you for asking it.

Chromium picolinate is composed of 12.43% elemental chromium and ~88% picolinic acid. For example, a capsule of chromium picolinate that contains 600 mcg of elemental chromium also contains approximately 4200 mcg of picolinic acid. The precise designation for this composition would be “600 micrograms of elemental chromium combined with 4200 micrograms of picolinic acid.” Unfortunately I, and others too, have fallen into the habit of referring to such a capsule by the inaccurate and confusing shorthand as “600 mcg of chromium picolinate.”

The daily dosage of chromium, as chromium picolinate, that I recommend is between 3-5 micrograms of elemental chromium per pound of body weight.

Again, yours is an important question. I thank you for asking it. Please let me know if I have answered it clearly. If not, I’ll be happy to try again.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Acceptable Dosage of Chromium

2008-08-07T07:20:00.004-04:00

Dear Dr. McLeod,

Thanks so much for your research into chromium suplementation for
depression. I found the abstract of your 2003 paper a couple of weeks
ago and have been taking chromium picolinate since then. It has
profoundly improved my life - my lifelong anxiety has been lifted, my
energy levels and mood are improved and the only side effect is
enhanced dreaming.

I am currently taking 600mcg chromium per day. The abstract of your
2003 paper suggests 600mcg of chromium picolinate, whereas Docherty et al (2005) used a dosage of chromium picolinate equivalent to 600mcg elemental chromium, which is 4,800mcg of chromium picolinate. What is the correct dosage?

I look forward to your answer.

Thanks,

A. W

ANSWER
Dear A. W.

Thank you for contacting me. I'm pleased that chromium is helping you.

The enhanced dreaming is a good sign that chromium is working in your body. Rather than a side effect, I think of it as a salutary sign. Some antidepressant medications cause an increase in dreaming. Ususally vivid dreaming subsides in two weeks. Please let me know the duration of your vivid dreaming.

I recommend a starting dosage of 3 mcg per pound of body weight per day of Chromax chromium picolinate. For a two-hundred pound person that "translates" to 600 mcg per day. If the desired relief is not achieved within a week, I suggest increasing the daily dosage to 5 mcg per body weight each day.

In the Docherty et al (2005)study, the dosage of Chromax chromium picolinate was 600 mcg per day of elemental chromium. That does NOT "translate" to 4,800 mcg per day of elemental chromium.

Again, thank you so much for contacting me about this important issue.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Can I safely take chromium with MAOIs and 5-HTP?

2008-07-21T07:25:00.002-04:00

Dear Dr. McLeod,
I stumbled across your site today and am very glad! :-)
I have over the last 2 years suffered panic attacks while in an abusive and violent relationship (but have always had a nervous disposition) and only a few weeks ago was advised I take 5HTP (with magnesium and B6) and it was suggested I may be deficient in B12and folic acid. Amazingly taking the 5HTP helped enormously with my anxiety and my IBS vanished!
However, I still find I am depressed... yet atypically I eat too much and sleep too much! I am also incredibly sensitive and when I stumbled across this site it all clicked! I may have atypical depression.
I am addicted to sugar and starchy foods and now weigh over 10 stone,
I need to nap in the day or else I can't cope and I still sleep over 9hours a night (though 5HTP has helped and I sleep much deeper), I think there must be something wrong with me that I am so tired and achy (like lead!) and I have severe phobias about social engagement, incredible fear of rejection that I have to "act" so that they won't be rejecting the real me (and when of course they do reject me because I am acting strange it only instils a greater fear of other people and more of a desire to be a hermit). My ex thought I must have Hysterical Personality Disorder.
Do you think that I would benefit from Chromium. I understand from one of the articles on here that MAOI also helps. I don't wish to discontinue 5HTP. Is it possible to take all three together?
Many thanks and I look forward to your response.
H

ANSWER:
Dear Ms. H:
Chromium is safe, in my experience, when taken with 5-HTP. I would advise you to take chromium and an MAOI only after consultation with your individual healthcare provider. I'm not sure, but I'm concerned that chromium and an MAOI might negatively interact.
Thank you for your question.

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD

Efficacy and safety of chromium picolinate

2008-07-17T07:16:00.003-04:00

Dear Dr. McLeod,
Thank you for your book about the atypical depression. I am fifty fiveand I have been taking 400 mcg of chromium picolinate daily since 2weeks and it has been successful as I feel really better, less lightheaded, less daytime sleepiness, much more open to my relatives and relationships and mainly less tired. My cravings for starches us blunted ! I can't believe it !

What is your opinion about the risk to take chromium for the long time at this dosage ?

Best regards, A. C.
Paris, France

Answer: I'm delighted that chromium has helped you. I have received many letters lilke yours. On to your question: Chromium is safe in the dosage you are taking. Several of my patients (and me as well) have taken 800 mcg of Chromax chromium picoliate per day for over a decade.

Thank you for contacting me.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Why no further research on CrPic in AD?

2008-05-30T07:37:00.003-04:00

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