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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Diet, Genomics and Immunology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #188534
Title: Food chromium content, dietary chromium intake, and related biological variables in French free-living elderly

Author
item ROUSSEL, ANNE - J.FOURIER U.GRENOBLE,FRAN
item FERRY, MONIQUE - CHR VALANCE,VALANCE,FRANC
item ANDRIOLLO-SANCHEZ, M - J.FOURIER U.GRENOBLE,FRAN
item Bryden, Noella
item Anderson, Richard

Submitted to: British Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2007
Publication Date: 8/3/2007
Citation: Roussel, A.M., Andriollo-Sanchez, M., Ferry, M., Bryden, N.A., and Anderson, R.A. 2007. Food chromium content, dietary chromium intake, and related biological variables in French free-living elderly. British Journal of Nutrition. 98(2):326-31.

Interpretive Summary: Chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, are leading causes of death in the elderly. Nutrition has been shown to play a role in these diseases and one nutrient that has been shown to be related to the increased risk factors of these diseases is chromium. Low intakes of chromium are associated with increased signs and symptoms of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have measured Cr intakes in the elderly. We measured the Cr contents of foods and daily intakes of freely-chosen diets for three days in 12 French free-living elderly people and hormones related to sugar and fat metabolism. Although these subjects had well balanced diets, their daily Cr intakes did not reach the French recommendations. The low Cr intakes were due to the low Cr density of the foods. We found a negative correlation between Cr intakes and insulin, body mass index and leptin, a hormone that relates to body fat. This work demonstrates that chromium intake of the French elderly subjects is suboptimal and may be related to the increased incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases associated with aging. This work will be of importance to the medical community, and also, the millions of people who may not be consuming adequate chromium.

Technical Abstract: Chromium (Cr3+) is an essential trace element involved in insulin function. Cr deficiencies result in an increased risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes. Few studies have measured Cr intakes in the elderly. We measured the Cr food contents and daily intakes of freely chosen diets for three days in 12 French free-living, elderly people and their Cr excretion and plasma hormonal related variables, leptin, insulin and cortisol. Considering the relationship between insulin resistance and oxidative stress, we also determined plasma TBAR’s, SH groups and total and reduced glutathione. Although these subjects had well balanced diets, their daily Cr intakes did not reach the French recommendations. The low Cr intakes were due to the low Cr density of the foods. We found a negative correlation between Cr intakes and insulin, BMI and leptin that underlines the need of optimal Cr intakes to prevent glucose intolerance in the elderly.