Each capsule contains: Chromium (polynicotinate) 250 mcg in a base of organic alfalfa leaf   Recommended Dosage: One capsule per day or as recommended by your health care practitioner.   Chromium in its trivalent ionic form is an essential mineral – specifically required as part of the glucose tolerance factor, which potentiates the action of insulin. The glucose tolerance factor is believed to be a complex of nicotinic acid. There are many clinical studies, which have demonstrated an improvement in blood glucose levels in type II diabetes, when chromium was administered.    Most North Americans have an intake below the RDA of 50 -200 mcg per day. In one study chromium intake was only 33 mcg/d for men and 25 mcg/d for women. Generally, normal chromium intake in North American and European countries is 50 –60% of the minimum 50 mcg recommended by the US National Research Council. Moreover, in the older population, not only is there inadequate intake but excretion of chromium is increased (i.e. there is decreased ability to retain chromium). Thus, there is a considerable decrease in total body chromium as people age. Forms of chromium Bioavailability is reflected by total tissue retention (TTR). The best TTR for peak percent retained is obtained for nicotinate-bound chromium as shown in the following figures[i]:   Nicotinate-bound (polynicotinate) 16% Chromium picolinate 5% Chromium chloride 2%   Other clinical studies show that nicotinate-bound chromium has a strong potentiating effect on insulin, whilst chromium picolinate does not. Nicotinate-bound chromium is 311% better absorbed than chromium picolinate and 672% better absorbed than chromium chloride. Weight Loss and Body Building Chromium supplements may be used as part of a weight loss program. Chromium supplementation will result in improvement to catabolism of fat when given as part of a weight loss diet and exercise program. Chromium administered during an exercise program increases lean body mass and decreases body fat relative to a placebo group. The group on chromium (200 mcg) over a six-week period increased lean body mass by nearly 6 pounds compared to the control group, which increased lean body mass by 4 pounds.  In the same study, the group taking the chromium lost 7.5 pounds of fat, compared to a fat loss of only 2 pounds in the control group[ii]. Diabetes Patients with type II diabetes (maturity-onset), show a very significant improvement in blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, when given doses of chromium of 1000 mcg[iii]. Smaller improvements were obtained with 200 mcg of chromium. Patients taking 1000 mcg of chromium had their glycosylated hemoglobin (glycHb) drop to 6.6% (close to normal levels of 6.2% or less), whilst those taking 200 mcg of chromium had their glycHb drop to 7.5%. The placebo group remained at 8.5%[iv]. Chromium will decrease blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increase HDL levels and potentiate insulin activity. Aging Rats given chromium supplements lived 30 months longer than a control group[v]. Aging in humans is associated with decreased ability to control blood glucose and a decrease in insulin utilization. The resulting high blood glucose and insulin levels in the vascular system contribute to cardiovascular disease and impairment of the immune system. Chromium supplementation in the aged can produce a considerably improved blood glucose level.   [i] Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 1992 [ii] J. A. Fisher, The Chromium Program, Harper and Row, pp. 16, 17, 1990 [iii] Effects of Chromium on Insulin Sensitivity in Vivo, J Trace Elem Exp Med, 12: 71-83, 1999 [iv] Richard Anderson, US Dept. of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Research Center, 1996 [v] D. O. Klatz, Stopping the Clock, Keats Publishing, New Canaan, pp. 112, 115, 1996