According to new research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, low levels of chromium in the body may be linked to an increased risk of heart attack. However, currently the value and safety of chromium supplementation remains unknown.
Chromium, a mineral that plays a role in carbohydrate and fat metabolism has been known to lead to blood sugar problems if deficient. The link between chromium and heart-health has remained unknown until now.
The study measured chromium levels in over 600 men who had survived a heart attack and a similar number who had never experienced a heart attack. Researchers found that chromium levels were 13 percent lower in heart attack patients than in comparison subjects. Chromium levels were also lower among participants with high blood pressure and older individuals, declining about 9 percent with each decade increase of age.
Overall, subjects with the highest levels of chromium were 35 percent less likely to have a heart attack than those with the lowest levels.
As promising as these findings are, researchers stress that considerably more evidence is required to support any claims that chromium supplementation will improve sugar control, weight loss, exercise capacity, and longevity.
Chromium can be found in beef, liver, chicken, eggs, wheat germ, bananas and spinach.
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