Easy Way to Happiness

Oct 1, 2008

Taking Chromium Supplements with Your Medications

by Peter D Vizard

Unlike years past, we’re lucky that, in today’s modern world, we can purchase vitamins and nutritional supplements in stores and online to help us improve and maintain our health. Since our fast-paced world of picking up snacks and hamburgers to go doesn’t always allow us to consume the necessary amount of nutrients we need, the right kind of vitamins and supplements are increasingly important to our bodies.

If you take prescription or over the counter medications, it’s vitally important that you know how these medications interact with chromium supplements. As a rule, always consult with your physician before taking chromium or any other supplement. Everything that you put into your body, including food, interacts with everything else in your body; in medical terms, this is called “synergy.” Sometimes synergistic effects are beneficial, and sometimes they are dangerous, even fatal. Think of it like this: Substance A in your body interacts with Substance B, producing an entirely different Substance C that could be either harmful or helpful.

For guidance, here are some of the medications that might affect the acid balance in your stomach and might even result to chromium loss: corticosteroids, antacids, H2 blockers (including famotidine, cimetidine and nizatidine), proton pump inhibitors (including omeprazole, pantoprazole and lansoprazole) and antacids. On the other hand, medications such as nicotinic acid, insulin, prostaglandin inhibitors (including aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen and indomethacin), non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and beta blockers can actually enhance the absorption of chromium.

To help you understand this issue better, here are some of the medications that may have an effect on the delicate acid balance within your stomach, and can result in the loss of essential chromium in your body: corticosteroids, antacids (prescribed or over the counter), H2 blockers like famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine, proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole, pantoprazole, and lansoprazole. On the contrary, there are medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen and indomethacin, plus nicotinic acid, insulin, prostaglandin inhibitors and beta blockers that enhance chromium absorption into your body. Note that these are generic names, not brand names; ask your physician or pharmacist to help you distinguish between the two names so you’re aware of exactly what medication you’re taking and its effects on the use of chromium supplements.

When purchasing a chromium supplement, you’ll find that it comes in many common forms like chromium picolinate, chromium chloride, high-chromium yeast, and chromium citrate. With your doctor’s consultation, the amount of chromium you need in a supplement ranges from 50 to 200 micrograms. Your doctor will help you determine the right amount of chromium you should take.

Since chromium supplements are so popular, take care to buy from a reputable local or online merchant. Take a few moments to ask questions of local sellers and carefully read the “about chromium” or similar section on an online site. You may find a high-quality product from an online vendor that is more affordable than a local store; as soon as your credit card purchase is complete, your chromium supplements will be whisked to your doorstep.

About the Author:

Are you health conscientious? Check out http://www.ChromiumSupplementsOnline.com/ for everything about supplement to help you enjoy life more. Includes advice on the Sources of chromium supplement.

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