Chromium is an essential mineral which is needed by the body in small ‘trace’ amounts.
Its main functions are to help maintain normal blood sugar and insulin levels and to support the maintenance of adequate cholesterol levels.
Chromium is found evenly distributed across many foods, but it is found in only very small amounts. Food manufacturing processes can also reduce the chromium content in processed foods, so it is important to eat a varied, healthy and balanced diet to obtain all the chromium your body needs.
Chromium may help improve fertility in people with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), due to the fact that it is thought to help to lower insulin levels and as result, testosterone levels are lowered. Insulin resistance is a core condition in PCOS and greatly contributes to hormonal imbalances that cause many PCOS symptoms.
It is important to ensure that insulin levels are managed as increased testosterone levels in women do not help those with PCOS. A 2006 study published in Fertility and Sterility found that chromium picolinate supplements improved blood sugar levels by 38 percent in women with PCOS. This same figure arose in another study that found giving women with polycystic ovarian syndrome chromium supplements for two months reduced insulin resistance by 30 percent in lean or normal-weight women with PCOS and 38 percent in overweight or obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
What foods are the best sources of chromium
Chromium is easy to obtain from any varied, healthy and balanced diet and should not be needed in supplement form. One of the best food sources of chromium is broccoli which can provide half the daily recommended amount. Other good food sources include:
- Potatoes
- Grape juice
- Tomatoes
- Pulses
- Brewer’s yeast
- Oysters
- Eggs
- Whole grains
- Bran cereal
- Lean meats and poultry
- Cheese
- Spices
- Black pepper
- Thyme
Please note: Chromium is better absorbed from food sources. You must always be advised by your GP before taking any pre-conception supplements, especially if you are on any regular medication for diabetes.
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