Chromium is a trace mineral that may help the body break down and store fats, carbohydrates, and protein. It also works with the hormone insulin to maintain a normal level of glucose in the body. It is especially important for pregnant women who are diabetic or develop gestational diabetes. The recommended daily intake of chromium for pregnant women is 30 micrograms. Chromium is found in many foods, including meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. However, pregnant women should not take chromium supplements unless advised to do so by a healthcare provider. Excessive consumption of chromium during pregnancy can have adverse effects on both the mother and the growing baby.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
--- | --- |
Recommended daily intake | 30 mcg |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | More effective than chromium in other forms |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause birth defects in mice |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause liver or kidney damage |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause mood changes |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause insomnia |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause headaches |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause stomach upset |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause allergic reactions in people with chromate or leather contact allergy |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause kidney damage |
Chromium in chromium picolinate form | May cause liver damage |
What You'll Learn
- Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps maintain a normal level of glucose in the body
- Chromium is especially important during pregnancy if the mother-to-be is diabetic or has gestational diabetes
- Chromium is found in many foods, including meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables
- Pregnant women are at a higher risk of chromium deficiency
- Chromium supplements are not recommended during pregnancy
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps maintain a normal level of glucose in the body
Chromium is found in several foods as a trace element, including meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The adequate intake of chromium for a pregnant woman should be 30 micrograms per day, but it differs for each pregnant woman. For lactating and breastfeeding women, the adequate intake is 45 micrograms per day.
Chromium is generally well-tolerated, and no Tolerable Upper Limit has been established. However, high doses of chromium can cause side effects such as stomach upset, headaches, insomnia, and mood changes. High doses have also been linked to more serious side effects including liver or kidney damage. Therefore, it is not recommended to take chromium supplements during pregnancy unless advised to do so by a healthcare provider.
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Chromium is especially important during pregnancy if the mother-to-be is diabetic or has gestational diabetes
Chromium is a mineral that may help the body break down and store fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It works with insulin to maintain normal glucose levels in the body. This is especially important for women who are diabetic or develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Chromium, along with insulin, promotes protein building in the developing baby's growing tissues. It also plays a role in breaking down lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. It stimulates fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, which are important for brain function and other bodily processes. Therefore, chromium is an essential trace nutrient required during pregnancy for the health and well-being of both the mother and the developing foetus.
Chromium is present in several foods as a trace element. It is found in meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Good sources of chromium include grape juice, ham, whole-wheat English muffins, brewer's yeast, orange juice, beef, turkey breast, apples, bananas, green beans, tomatoes, and peanut butter.
Chromium is generally safe for consumption during pregnancy. However, some forms of the mineral may be unsafe in large amounts. It is recommended that pregnant women meet their chromium requirements through their diet or prenatal vitamins, rather than through supplements.
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Chromium is found in many foods, including meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables
Chromium is a trace mineral that plays a role in how the body breaks down protein, carbs, and fats. It is not an essential mineral, so a chromium deficiency will not cause health issues. However, it is still beneficial to include chromium in your diet.
- 1 cup of grape juice: 7.5 mcg
- 3 ounces of ham: 3.6 mcg
- One whole-wheat English muffin: 3.6 mcg
- 1 tablespoon of brewer's yeast: 3.3 mcg
- 1 cup of orange juice: 2.2 mcg
- 3 ounces of beef: 2.0 mcg
- 3 ounces of turkey breast: 1.7 mcg
- One medium apple, with peel: 1.4 mcg
- 1/2 cup of green beans: 1.1 mcg
- One medium banana: 1.0 mcg
- 1 slice of whole-wheat bread: 1.0 mcg
- One medium tomato: 0.9 mcg
- 1 tablespoon of peanut butter: 0.6 mcg
Chromium is also found in broccoli, dried garlic, mashed potatoes, and shellfish.
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Pregnant women are at a higher risk of chromium deficiency
Chromium is present in many foods, including meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. However, pregnant women will be at risk of chromium deficiency if they do not eat healthy, chromium-rich foods. Severe chromium deficiency has been found only in hospitalised individuals fed through intravenous drips. The symptoms seen in such cases include high blood sugar due to impaired glucose tolerance, weight loss, confusion, and malfunctioning of the peripheral nervous system.
Chromium is also important for the developing baby as it helps with protein building in the baby's tissues. It plays a role in the breakdown of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. It stimulates fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, which are important for brain function and other body processes. Therefore, chromium is an essential trace nutrient required during pregnancy for the health and well-being of both the mother and the developing foetus.
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Chromium supplements are not recommended during pregnancy
Chromium is a trace mineral that is important for pregnant women. It helps maintain a normal level of glucose in the body and is especially important if the mother-to-be is diabetic or has gestational diabetes. Chromium is present in several foods as a trace element, including meats, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The adequate intake of chromium for a pregnant woman should be 30 micrograms per day, but it differs for each pregnant woman. Although pregnant women are at higher risk of a chromium deficiency than normal women, taking chromium supplements during pregnancy is not recommended. It is suggested that women should opt for natural sources of chromium during pregnancy.
Chromium picolinate is the form in which chromium is present in dietary supplements. It is trivalent chromium attached to three molecules of picolinic acid. This form is absorbed better by the body than chromium found in foods. However, you should not take chromium picolinate in pregnancy without consulting your doctor. Excessive consumption of chromium during pregnancy can have adverse effects on both the mother and the growing baby. Some of these side effects of taking too much chromium include kidney and liver damage, irregular blood sugar levels, and reactions with other drugs.
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Frequently asked questions
Chromium is a mineral that may help your body break down and store fats, carbohydrates, and protein. It also appears to work with the hormone insulin to maintain a normal level of glucose in your body. This is especially important if you're diabetic or become diabetic during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
Chromium is likely safe when used short-term. Up to 1000 mcg of chromium daily has been used safely for up to 6 months. When taken for longer periods of time, chromium is possibly safe. Chromium has been used safely in doses of 200-1000 mcg daily for up to 2 years. Some people experience side effects such as stomach upset, headaches, insomnia, and mood changes. High doses have been linked to more serious side effects including liver or kidney damage.
Chromium is likely safe when taken by mouth in amounts that do not exceed adequate intake (AI) levels. The AI for those 14-18 years old is 28 mcg daily. For those 19-50 years old, it is 30 mcg daily. Chromium is possibly safe to use in amounts higher than the AI levels while pregnant. But don't take chromium supplements during pregnancy unless advised to do so by a healthcare provider.
There are no standard tests to determine chromium deficiency. However, as chromium is found in several regularly consumed foods, it can be obtained through a healthy balanced diet. Pregnant women will be at the risk of chromium deficiency if they do not eat healthy foods rich in chromium. Severe chromium deficiency has been found only in hospitalised individuals fed through intravenous drips. The symptoms seen in such cases include high blood sugar due to impaired glucose tolerance (glucose intolerance may lead to chromium deficiency or vice versa), loss of weight, confusion, and malfunctioning of the peripheral nervous system.
Excessive consumption of chromium during pregnancy can have adverse effects on both the mother and the growing baby. Some of these side effects of taking too much chromium include:
- Kidney and liver damage
- Irregular blood sugar levels
- Reactions with other drugs