Chromium depletion in the pathogenesis of diabetes and atherosclerosis.

Dietary Cr deficiency may cause the aging-related Cr depletion observed in humans. Such depletion, when it occurs with excessive consumption of sugar and other carbohydrates, may result in glucose intolerance, glycosuria, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia. These metabolic disorders could explain why athero-sclerotic diseases are endemic to most Western industrial societies. This review detailed significant current research and findings on the manifestations of Cr deficiency in humans and animal models.