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Medical Forum / General / Vision / March 2005Why does chromium improve focus?
I wonder if anyone, especially one of the pros, might be able to comment on just why the nutritional supplement chromium picolinate improves eye focus (acuity). After experimenting with it, I can definitely say it does. As I understand, chromium is involved in energy production in the body, perhaps having an anabolic effect (encouraging stronger muscles as opposed to fat accumulation). It also seems to be used in adult onset diabetes (and there are at least some reports of good results). The only thing I can think is that the chromium is causing the muscles in the eye involved with focus to perform better, therefor improving focus. If anyone has any knowledge about just what the mechanism is, it would be most interesting to know. TIA >I wonder if anyone, especially one of the pros, might be able to > comment on just why the nutritional supplement chromium picolinate > improves eye focus (acuity). After experimenting with it, I can > definitely say it does. First you need better evidence than your own subjective impression. This is the first time I've heard of such a claim for CP. > As I understand, chromium is involved in energy > production in the body, perhaps having an anabolic effect (encouraging > stronger muscles as opposed to fat accumulation). It also seems to be > used in adult onset diabetes (and there are at least some reports of > good results). And there are lots of letters from the FDA insisting that commercial distributors remove those claims from their advertising. I found CP worthless in controlling my own blood sugar. My internist wasn't surprised. > The only thing I can think is that the chromium is > causing the muscles in the eye involved with focus to perform better, > therefor improving focus. If anyone has any knowledge about just what > the mechanism is, it would be most interesting to know. "Improving focus muscles" couldn't affect distance acuity in a normal eye, because the focusing muscles must _relax_ to focus distant objects. I think you'll find the only claims for such benefits come from commercial distributors. -MT > First you need better evidence than your own subjective impression. This is > the first time I've heard of such a claim for CP. Hi Mike, I know you are well informad on vision issues because of your posts over the years. Actually, my inquiry wasn't as a research project, only a desire to find out exactly why it improved vision in my own case. (I tried CP and vision was notably sharper, went off and it worsened, went back on and it became sharper, went off and it worsened--so I'm convinced, in my case, it works.) I ran across a number of recommendations for it in the past. > And there are lots of letters from the FDA insisting that commercial > distributors remove those claims (helping diabetes) from their advertising. > I found CP worthless in controlling my own blood sugar. My internist wasn't > surprised. I'm not referring to anyone's advertising, as I pay no attention to that. I've worked with the Diabetes Association as a volunteer and have seen studies concerning CP and type 2--some discounting it, and some supporting it, as in many things. Fortunately, I don't have any sugar problems, so I haven't looked into it as extensively as you probably have. >> "Improving focus muscles" couldn't affect distance acuity in a normal eye, > because the focusing muscles must _relax_ to focus distant objects. I'm thinking more of near vision. My distance vision is 20/20 uncorrected, but reading small print has become uncomfortable--hence, my search for a non-medical approach. As above, the CP has been noticably helpful. > I think you'll find the only claims for such benefits come from commercial > distributors. Again, I pay no attention to commercial claims, so I really don't know what they claim. > -MT >> First you need better evidence than your own subjective impression. >This is [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >> >> -MT Unfortunately, it's impossible to rule out the placebo effect in this case. You, more than likely, still have accommodative capacity. It's pretty likely that you've drawn on that accommodative capacity to improve near vision. > Hi Mike, <Snip> > I'm thinking more of near vision. My distance vision is 20/20 > uncorrected, but reading small print has become uncomfortable--hence, > my search for a non-medical approach. As above, the CP has been > noticably helpful. I am always fascinated when someone says that they that they want to try a non-medical approach, and then take a supplement extracted from either a herb or chemical/mineral. Especially when they have no assurance whatsoever (in North America) that what they are taking actually is made up of the ingredients listed on the label in the strength listed on the label. In what sense is taking the herb or supplement not a medical approach? How does that reasoning work? At least in a prescription drug, the actual manufacturing process is strictly regulated. In this case, you are willing to go so far as to ingest an unknown substance instead of trying a simple mechanical apparatus (eyeglasses). Dennis (Enquiring minds want to know.) > I am always fascinated when someone says that they that they want to try > a non-medical approach, and then take a supplement extracted from either > a herb or chemical/mineral. Especially when they have no assurance > whatsoever (in North America) that what they are taking actually is made > up of the ingredients listed on the label in the strength listed on the > label. There are many trustworthy supplement manufacturers in North America who have been in business longer than probably most of the posters on this board have been alive. There's been plenty of controversy recently about the dangers of prescription drugs. Furthermore, if the supplement delivers the expected results, that would seem to confirm its reliability. >In what sense is taking the herb or supplement not a medical > approach? How does that reasoning work? A nutritional supplement is a nutrient, not a drug. That's how that reasoning works. > At least in a prescription drug, the actual manufacturing process is > strictly regulated. In this case, you are willing to go so far as to > ingest an unknown substance instead of trying a simple mechanical > apparatus (eyeglasses). I'm sure it's comforting to those made ill by prescription drugs to know the manufacturing process is strictly regulated. Chromium is not an unknown substance. Eyeglasses are not a simple mechanical apparatus--they must be prescribed with great precision, manufactured precisely, fitted correctly, and according to some cause the user to become dependent on them. Furthermore, resorting to glasses without further investigation is treating the symptom, not the cause. > Dennis (Enquiring minds want to know.) Dennis' post is not a helpful response, nor does it address the the original question as to why chromium helps focus--this inquiring mind wants to know. > Dennis' post is not a helpful response, nor does it address the the > original question as to why chromium helps focus--this inquiring mind > wants to know. This inquiring mind wants to know if it really does. If there's any diet supplement that improves visual acuity in healthy eyes, most doctors have never heard of it. -MT > I wonder if anyone, especially one of the pros, might be able to > comment on just why the nutritional supplement chromium picolinate > improves eye focus (acuity). My professional Developmental optometrist (B.Optom FCOVD) gave me a fact pack for vision therapy. "Recommended supplements" "Chelated Chromium is very important if one is nearsighted" An internet search of Chromium picolinate shows it to be such a chelate of chromium. "Chromium Picolinate is a chelate of one chromium molecule linked to three picolinate molecules" Andrew Possibly Chromium helps because supposedly its important in the regulation of sugar in the body and sugar variation has been linked with crystalline lens variation Also Chromium is possibly linked to depression. Myopia has been linked to anxiety and self esteem. But i cant find anything linking chromium to myopia directly. > Possibly Chromium helps because supposedly its important in the > regulation of sugar in the body and sugar variation has been linked > with crystalline lens variation It's a quantum universe. Anything's possible. > But i cant find anything linking chromium to myopia directly. It wasn't clear that the original poster had myopia. It wasn't clear that the original poster actually had quantifiable improvement in acuity or refractive error. "Why does it work?" requires an assumption that it _does_ work. Are you aware of any other findings suggesting chromium picolinate improves either refractive error or neurosensory perception? -MT Seems the suggestion that Chromium is good for the eye has come from the Nutritional Optometry Institute in New Jersey. This seems to be a one man crusade for better vision via better diet. http://www.glaucoma.org/news/gleams_fall99.html I was sent what seems like a better link but it has an error for me but might work for others http://www.vision-archive.com/sci.med.vision/Daily_Vitamins_Could_Prevent_Vision _Loss_2797.html <<Benjamin Lane, O.D., C.N.S., an optometrist who has researched the role of nutrition in eye health for more than two decades, has found that chromium deficiency is strongly tied to the development and progression of nearsightedness (Journal of the International Academy of Preventive Medicine, 1982, vol. VII, no.3). Because refined carbohydrates are very low in chromium, eating a diet composed primarily of these foods can cause a chromium deficiency over time. Chromium is needed for the proper function of the ciliary muscles, the muscles that help the eyes focus. If there isn't enough chromium in our bloodstream, Lane says, then sustained eye focusing can't be maintained. For example, many children eat excessive amounts of chromium-depleting sugar, but in Lane's clinical experience, they don't develop nearsightedness until their chromium reserves run out. "As soon as they lose their chromium reserves, they rapidly go into myopia under the stress of eye-focusing," says Lane. Although many factors can contribute to nearsightedness, Lane believes avoiding refined carbohydrates is one of the best nutritional strategies for preventing the development or progression of nearsightedness and for helping delay the development of farsightedness, or presbyopia. Along with chromium, it's important to eat foods rich in folic acid and vitamin C as both of these nutrients work with chromium to promote proper function of the ciliary muscles, says Lane. The best sources of folic acid are dark, leafy greens such as spinach, romaine lettuce and kale. Citrus fruits, papaya, broccoli and potatoes are especially rich sources of vitamin C. Good sources of chromium include whole grain products, brewer's yeast, meats, nuts, mushrooms and egg yolks.>>
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