CHROMIUM RESEARCH FROM A DISTANCE - FROM 1959 TO 1980

More than 50 years of work have led to the recognition of trivalent ch romium as an essential element Shortly after its identification as an essential element in 1959, its interaction with insulin in vitro and i n vivo was established, and the site of action identified as the insul in-sensitive cell membrane. Despite other early clinical successes wit h chromium supplementation, four major problems have influenced the ra te of progress since then: 1) chromium analysis; 2) interaction bf chr omium with other dietary factors; 3) diagnosis of chromium status; and 4) other controversies, such as the carcinogenic potential of chromiu m (since disproved) and the lack of an effect on glucose tolerance eve n in chromium deficient organisms (now explained). These controversies have mostly dissipated as new knowledge integrated seemingly irreconc ilable facts and opinions. It is now known that chromium may potentiat e the action of insulin either by an effect on insulin dependent funct ions, or by maintaining these functions with less insulin, or by a com bination of both. Despite much progress in the last 30 years, major ch allenges in chromium research remain, such as the development of pract ical methods for diagnosing chromium deficiency, Of several approaches for solving this problem, the most feasible might be to standardize t he urinary chromium response following an insulinogenic challenge, suc h as an oral load of glucose or of glucose pins fructose (for maximal stimulation) with wine collection before and during the 2-hour test.