AGE-RELATED DECREASES IN CHROMIUM LEVELS IN 51,665 HAIR, SWEAT, AND SERUM SAMPLES FROM 40,872 PATIENTS - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PREVENTION OFCARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE AND TYPE-II DIABETES-MELLITUS

This report shows, for the first time using modern analytical techniqu es, highly significant age-related decreases in chromium levels in 51, 665 hair, sweat, and serum samples obtained from 40,872 patients refer red by their physicians to an independent medical research clinic and laboratory (r = -.598 to -.762, P<.0001 for all correlations). Males w ere found to have significantly lower mean chromium levels than female s (P<.05 to .0001). There was good correlation between chromium levels in hair, sweat, and serum (r = .536 to .729, P<.0001 for all correlat ions), indicating that hair and sweat chromium levels are valid additi ons to the serum levels in assessing chromium status. Chromium measure ments in sweat, hair, and serum were performed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The influences that age-related d ecreases in chromium levels might have on increasing the risk to devel op age-related impaired glucose metabolism, disordered lipid metabolis m, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, and type II diabetes mell itus are outlined, and the role that refined carbohydrates play in the development of compromised chromium status is presented. Copyright (C ) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.