Chromium helps concentration

Dr. McLeod:

First off, thank you for bringing the chromium connection to the
world. Keep up the good work!

Two weeks ago I began supplementing chromium picolinate, 500 mcg. I
weigh ~140 lbs. Depending on the therapist I am various diagnosed as
bipolar 2, cyclothymia, or major depressive disorder. Let’s just sum
it up as having a mood disorder including mood swings of various
lengths. I have had a sugar addiction/compulsion/cravings for most of
my life as well.

Having little success with meds (SSRIs, lithium), I attempted a more
“natural” path and made great inroads in treating this by aiming at a
generally primal, low-carb diet, and supplementing with fish oil, vit
D, iodine, magnesium, NAC, etc. etc. This was a *lot* of help,
amazingly so. Chromium though is the most recent addition and has made
a remarkable difference. It is absolutely shocking to me how improved
I feel in as little as 4 days. I have never felt more focused.

I am emailing you though because of this: since taking chromium my
compulsion to eat lots of sugars and sweets has plummeted. But now I
endlessly crave produce (as in eating upwards of 10-12 servings a
day). I dont really understand why. It feels very odd to crave
lettuce, celery, carrots, onions. These are not very fulfilling
either, I should add, though I just want more and more all the same.
And while I eat fruit, the idea of eating junk food/sweets is almost
nauseating now. But the desire for produce is unending. Why might this
be?

I understand that certain nutrients require a balance with one
another. Examples: omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs, zinc and copper,
magnesium and calcium. You get the idea. Does chromium have a
metabolic “partner” like this?

Thank you for the advice.

Sincerely,
 R.J.

Dear R.J.

Thank you for contacting me.  I know that chromium craves carb cravings in some people, but I’ve never heard anyone report an increase in craving for other foods.  Regarding your second question regarding “nutrient balance”, I don’t know of another trace mineral that is required for chromium to act maximally.

Keep me posted on what you discover.

Malcolm McLeod Md

Must I Be Overweight to Have Atypical Depression?

Dr. McLeod

I have many of the symptoms of atypical depression you describe, but I am not overweight. Does that mena I can’t be considered to have atypical depressio.

C.P.

Dear C.P.

Many underweight people, especially when young, are underweight and yet have atypcial depression.  They do have excessive appetites and tend to gain weight as they age.

Please let me know of your experience.

Malcolm McLeod MD

Can an Underweight Person Have Atypical Depression?

Dear Dr. McLeod

Is it possible to be both underweight and have the atypical depression
that you describe that would be helped by chromium supplements? I know
that I have erratic blood sugar problems (glucose testing), depression
beginning in childhood, severe social sensitivity and anxiety, and
issues with being underweight. Would chromium be worth a try?

Thanks,
JJ

ANSWER

Yes indeed, JJ.  In many people atypical depression begins when they are young and trim.  They do have excessive appetites and tend to gain weight over the years.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Are SAD and Atypical Depression the Same?

Dr. McLeod,

Are Seasonal Affective Disorder and Atypical Depression the same disorder?  My psychologist tells me I suffer from SAD, but as I was reading your book, it sounds like I have Atypical Depression.  Confused. Help. Thanks.

CR

ANSWER

Dear CR,

Seasonal Affective Disorder (also known as SAD and winter blues) and Atypical Depression (AD) share many of the same symptoms.   These include depression, cravings for carbohydrates, a tendency to gain weight,  loss of energy, oversleeping, heightened sensitivity to rejection, social isolaltion, and difficulty concentrating.  SAD and Atypical Depression are different, however.  In SAD depression usually begins in the the late fall or early winter months, and lifts when spring arrives, whereas AD can occur at any time during the year. People with AD often complain of a heavingess of their arms and legs, referred to as leaden paralysis. AD often starts in the teenage years.

What causes these disorders? An imbalalce of chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) are thought to play a role in causing AD. If you have a biological family member with AD or alcoholism, you may be more suspectible to AD. Childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. and loss of a parent may predispose a person to AD.

The causes of SAD are not known for certain, but SAD is thought to be caused by a reduced amount of light which changes

• your biological clock (circadian rhythm) and lowers mood
•  serotonin levels, and  
• melatonin levels, which play a role in sleep regulation and mood.

What is the treatment for these conditions?

Phototherapy (light therapy) and medications (including melatonin) are often used to treat SAD. Psychotherapy and medications are used to treat AD. 

Based on a small amount of data, I think that chromium, as chromium picolinate, might be helpful in these disorders.  The FDA has not reviewed this claim.

I would be pleased to receive a followup from  you.

Malcolm McLeod, MD

Chromium’s Help with Mood and Concentration

Hi Dr. Mcleod,

This is a comment and a question. But first, I want to say I’m very
happy you have done this research on chromium. I have known about the
benifits of this mineral for years. Read more

Chromium, Moodiness and Atypical Depression

Dr. McLeod,

I have just had a moment that I believe I have suffered from atypical depression most of my life (since I was a kid). Read more

PCOS, Depression and Chromium

Dr. McLeod,

I ran across your website while researching depression.  Read more

Does Chromium Help Tryptophan Enter the Brain?

Dear Dr. McLeod

Thank you so much for your work on chromium and depression.  Here is my question: I know that tryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, and that brain levels of serotonin are involed in depression.  Has any research been conducted to answer the question whether chromium helps tryptophan enter the brain?

ANSWER:

Yes. Research on this topic has been conducted by a group on splendid investigators in the Department of Psychiatry at Warneford Hospital in Oxford, England.  They concluded that “Chromium can modify brain 5-HT function in humans and animals, perhaps by altering the sensitivity of central 5-HT(2A) receptors.”  This may be the mechanism whereby chromium helps some people.  I would certainly like to see more research on this topic.

Thank you for  your question.

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD

Chromium helps carb cravings in atypical depression

study. Moreover, many of my patients, like you, have been able to decrease their antidepressant medications. You might want to add exercise to your regimen.

Chromium helps carb cravings in atypical depression

Dear Dr. McLeod
I have been struggling with atypical depression for years. Depression, binge eating due to overwhelming carb cravings, weight gain, oversleeping, debilitating fatigue, extreme sensitivity to rejection… all worsening over the months and years in severity and eventually leading to suicidal ideation. I went on Lexapro which helped keep me alive and allowed me to function from day to day, even though I never felt whole and healed. And it never touched the carb cravings. I eventually added therapy and noticed concrete, steady improvement and the possibility in my mind of eventually achieving long term mental health. Oh, but still those carb cravings. They really wouldn’t budge.Then I read an article on Chromium for atypical depression and I decided to try it… 600 mcg qd. Within days I noticed a difference. Within two weeks I had cut my Lexapro from 10 mg qd to 5 mg qd. Within 5 weeks I quit taking the Lexapro altogether. On a scale of 0-100, my carb cravings have dropped from a raging 100 to a very manageable 10. It is the most liberating experience. I thank God for freedom from those chains. Willpower never even entered into that equation. I continue with the therapy, will probably be there for several months more. But thanks to the Chromium I feel I now have real hope, a chance to go forward, do the work I need to do, heal and find real peace. In short, the effect of Chromium on my mental health has felt nothing short of miraculous.Thank you for your work and for allowing me to share that. VC

Dear VC

Thank you so much for contacting me. I have observed reduction in carbohydrate cravings in atypical depression in many patients, and this finding has been confirmed by a large, placebo-controlled, double-blinded

I read your report to a psychiatric resident whom I supervise. (A resident is a medical-school graduate who is specializing in a particular branch of medicine.) He was impressed and asked, “Why don’t more people take chromium?” I told him it’s because chromium is not an expensive drug that is “hyped” by big pharma.

I hope your testimonial and that of others will help the word “get around” so that others can be helped. For that reason I wrote Lifting Depression. The second edition will hit the shelves in July of 2009.

Thank you again for contacting me.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Another depressed person responds to chromium

Another depressed person responds to chromium

I have received hundreds of emails that support my discovery that chromium is useful in the treatment and prevention of the type of depression associated with carbohydrate craving. Here is the most recent account:

Dear Dr. McLeod,
I came across your website and your book after trying to look for the connection between chromium and depression on the Internet. I was looking to see if there was any information about the connection, because I in fact knew that there was through personal experience, even though I hadn’t until today read anything to confirm it. I first started taking Chromium about 2 or 3 years ago in an attempt to stop sugar cravings and lost a bit of weight. I was certain that — as well as giving me more energy and motivation — chromium also improved my moods! I suffer from mild Dysthymia and despite knowing why at times I feel ‘down and depressed’, other times I am simply taken over by feelings of despair, sadness and absolute emptiness. At times these are due to my hormones, I have very high oestrogen, but at other times the feelings just come and go with no reason at all! I can definitely say that Chromium stabilises these feelings and has a 100% positive effect on depression which I recognised a few years ago now. I then stopped taking it, partly because I was feeling better and partly because of the apparent side effects, however for the past 8 months I have gone back to feeling very depressed and just started taking them again today; I can feel the difference already.

Your book will inform many people about the benefits of Chromium, if taken sensibly and with an informed mind set! You may publish my response to chromium on your blog. I hope it will be useful to others. Doctors should suggest chromium instead of anti-depressants which mask feelings!
Best Wishes,
E.N.

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