Since the discovery of chromium (Cr) by French chemist Vaupuel in 1797, chromium (Ⅲ) has been considered a toxic and harmful element, even a carcinogen. With the deepening of the basic theoretical research on chromium (Ⅲ), until the 1960s, some research results show that chromium is one of the essential trace elements in the human body. The National Food and Nutrition Commission of the United States announced in 1980 that chromium (Ⅲ) is a basic nutrient. It is mainly through the glucose tolerance factor (glucosetolerancefactor, GTF) synergistic or enhance the role of insulin, which in turn affects sugar, lipid, protein and nucleic acid metabolism. As a nutritional fortifier, trace elements have successively gone through three stages of development: inorganic salts of trace elements, organic weak acid salts of trace elements, and chelate compounds of amino acid trace elements.
Trace elements (metal cations) require a carrier molecule to coat them and form an organic fat-soluble surface outside the cell membrane before they can pass through the cell membrane. The amino acid molecule in the chelate just happens to protect the metal ion. The metal ion located in the chelating center of the five-membered ring or the six-membered ring can be absorbed through the intestinal wall through the intestinal villi brush-like edge. It is absorbed through the “cytosolic mode”, so the trace element chelate is well absorbed and the bioavailability is high.
1. Protective effect on pancreas: Chromium methionine is an organic coordination compound containing chromium, which has a synergistic effect of the biological activity of trivalent chromium Cr (Ⅲ) and methionine, mainly manifested in the following three aspects.
1) Targeting agent for pancreas: 25 to 30 minutes after oral administration of synthetic chromium methionine, the amount of chromium methionine in the pancreas is 7 to 8 times higher than that in the liver. It is difficult to bring diagnostic drugs to the pancreas due to conventional methods In particular, Cr(Ⅲ) is delivered to the chromium-deficient pancreas. Experimental research proves that methionine chromium is an effective targeting agent for the pancreas, which can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreas.
2) Promote pancreas function: When the pancreas synthesizes digestive enzymes, it needs a large amount of amino acids and chromium to promote pancreatic islet secretion function and improve insulin sensitivity.
3) Scavenging and inhibiting the damage of free radicals to the pancreas: Experimental studies have shown that chromium methionine can not only scavenge the free radicals of the pancreas, but also inhibit the production of free radicals, and its free radical scavenging effect is stronger than Cr(Ⅲ) and methionine alone.
2. Effect on sugar and fat metabolism:
1) Chromium methionine is an enhancer of insulin: one of the most significant functions of insulin is its role in lowering blood sugar, and chromium uses chromium methionine, a complex compound of Cr(Ⅲ), as a “synergistic hormone” of insulin. The mechanism by which insulin regulates sugar metabolism is to assist sugar to enter the cell membrane, and chromium methionine can promote the combination of insulin and tissues, so that the role of insulin can be fully exerted. Oxidative decomposition of glucose releases energy, and insulin and chromium are also required to participate. Glucose requires a glucose phosphate mutase to catalyze the process of glycolysis in the body. Even in the absence of magnesium, it can maintain this enzyme to work properly. Because chromium and insulin have a synergistic effect, chromium can stabilize the molecular structure of insulin.
2) The lipid-promoting effect of methionine chromium: methionine chromium participates in lipid metabolism and accelerates the oxidation of fat, which helps the transportation and removal of lipids in the arterial wall. Chromium deficiency may be a causative factor for atherosclerosis, and methionine chromium enhances the lipid metabolism of Cr(Ⅲ) and methionic acid. The synthesis of choline in the body requires the supply of methionine to the methyl group. Lecithin composed of choline is an indispensable substance for fat transport and removal of fat deposits. Therefore, the lipid metabolism of methionine chromium is an effective drug for prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and liver protection.
Post time: Jun-12-2020