How to Treat Metabolic Syndrome With Chromium

Metabolic syndrome is composed of a group of medical conditions. The primary risk factors for metabolic syndrome are insulin resistance and excess fat around the abdomen. Metabolic syndrome is also characterized by hypertension, high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and high triglyceride levels. If left uncontrolled, metabolic syndrome can result in diabetes. Regular exercise, a healthy diet and losing excess weight are the primary treatments for metabolic syndrome. However, you may also choose to add supplements such as chromium to your diet. Chromium may help your insulin resistance, but you should not neglect exercise and diet in favor of pills.

Instructions

• 1

  Evaluate your risk factors for chromium deficiency to determine if you should supplement with chromium. If you are not deficient in chromium, taking chromium supplements will not likely help you. Those who consume a diet high in sugar are at risk for chromium deficiency, as are the elderly, pregnant women and athletes who exercise strenuously.

• 2

  Determine whether it is safe for you to take chromium supplements by talking to your doctor. In some cases, taking too much chromium may result in stomach upset, flushing, itching and insulin ineffectiveness. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it may also rarely result in irregular heartbeat, kidney damage and liver dysfunction. Chromium supplements (as opposed to dietary chromium) may also interact with some medications, such as antacids and diabetes medications.

• 3

  Take a 200 mcg supplement of chromium between one and three times per day. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, this is the optimal dosage for treating or preventing a medical condition. The RDA of chromium for an adult female between the ages of 19 and 50 is 25 mcg per day, and for a male of the same age group it is 35 mcg daily. If you're taking a higher dose than the RDA, talk to your doctor first to evaluate the safety.

• 4

  Meet your chromium needs through diet, rather than a supplement, if you feel uneasy about the safety of taking a pill. Dietary sources of chromium include cheese, lean meat, molasses, whole-grain cereal and bread, some bran cereals, pork kidney and brewer's yeast.