Chromium and Sleep
May 7, 2011 by Malcolmnoell003
Filed under Sleep
Dear Dr. McLeod
I read your patent regarding chromium and hypersomnia/insomnia. I have atypical depression with the exception of food cravings. My primary concern is my sleep – 12 hours sleep needed to function – and stress related chronic insomnia. Do you have any more anecdotal evidence regarding how chromium helps hypersomnia and why? Also, should the supplement be taken with our without food?
Thanks so much.
B.K
ANSWER: Yes, Ms K. I do have anecdotal evidence that chromium improves wakefulness and concentration for several hours after taking it and after several hours it promotes nighttime sleep. Put in other words, in some people chromium has a biphasic effect on sleep: it makes them more alert for several hours after taking chromium, but 12 hours after taking it, sleep is improved. I have observed this effect in several people, and the effect has lasted for years. I wish I could tell you that tthere is a large, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that supports this observation, but there is not.
I read your patent regarding chromium and hypersomnia/insomnia. I have atypical depression with the exception of food cravings. My primary concern is my sleep – 12 hours sleep needed to function – and stress related chronic insomnia. Do you have any more anecdotal evidence regarding how chromium helps hypersomnia and why? Also, should the supplement be taken with our without food?
Thanks so much.
B.K
ANSWER: Yes, Ms K. I do have anecdotal evidence that chromium improves wakefulness and concentration for several hours after taking it and after several hours it promotes nighttime sleep. Put in other words, in some people chromium has a biphasic effect on sleep: it makes them more alert for several hours after taking chromium, but 12 hours after taking it, sleep is improved. I have observed this effect in several people, and the effect has lasted for years. I wish I could tell you that tthere is a large, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial that supports this observation, but there is not.
Chromium can be taken in the morning with or without food. To be on the cautious side, take it with food.
Please let me know what response you might have.
Malcolm McLeod, MD
Malcolm McLeod, MD
