Chromium (Blood)

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Report in 12Hrs

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No Fasting Required

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Measures chromium levels.

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Chromium (Blood) - Comprehensive Medical Test Guide

Why is it done?
- Measures blood levels of chromium, an essential trace mineral that plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and insulin regulation
- Evaluates for chromium deficiency, which can impair glucose tolerance and contribute to metabolic disorders
- Assesses chromium toxicity or excessive exposure in occupational health settings or contamination incidents
- Monitors patients with type 2 diabetes or glucose intolerance to assess nutritional status and chromium supplementation effectiveness
- Investigates suspected occupational exposure in individuals working with welding materials, tanning chemicals, or metal-related industries
- Evaluates nutritional adequacy in patients on prolonged parenteral nutrition or with malabsorption disorders
- Performed when patients present with unexplained glucose metabolism issues, weight gain, or metabolic syndrome symptoms
Normal Range
- Normal chromium levels in blood: 0.1 to 0.6 ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter) or 1.9 to 12 nmol/L (nanomoles per liter)
- Reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories; consult your specific lab's reference values for accurate interpretation
- Low chromium: Less than 0.1 ng/mL - indicates deficiency; may impair glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity
- Normal chromium: 0.1 to 0.6 ng/mL - adequate levels for normal metabolic function and insulin action
- High chromium: Greater than 0.6 ng/mL - suggests excessive exposure, toxicity, or contamination; requires further investigation
- Very high levels (>5 ng/mL) indicate acute or chronic toxicity and potential health risks
Interpretation
- Low Chromium Levels (<0.1 ng/mL): Indicates chromium deficiency; associated with impaired glucose tolerance, increased insulin resistance, and elevated blood glucose levels. May contribute to weight gain, increased cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome. Particularly concerning in diabetic patients as chromium enhances insulin action.
- Normal Chromium Levels (0.1-0.6 ng/mL): Indicates adequate chromium status; suggests normal glucose metabolism and insulin function. Body has sufficient chromium for metabolic processes and enzymatic reactions.
- Elevated Chromium Levels (>0.6 ng/mL): Suggests excessive exposure or chromium toxicity. May result from occupational exposure, environmental contamination, or chrome supplement overuse. High levels can cause kidney damage, liver dysfunction, and respiratory issues.
- Very High Chromium Levels (>5 ng/mL): Indicates acute toxicity or chronic occupational/environmental poisoning. Requires immediate medical intervention, monitoring of kidney and liver function, and assessment of tissue damage.
- Factors Affecting Chromium Levels: • Dietary intake (whole grains, meats, nuts contain chromium) • Occupational exposure (welding, metal processing, tanning) • Supplementation practices • Kidney function (impaired elimination increases levels) • Stress levels (stress increases chromium excretion) • Age (levels may vary with age) • Collection timing (some variation throughout the day)
- Clinical Significance: Chromium is essential for the glucose tolerance factor (GTF) that enhances insulin action. Deficiency directly correlates with glucose metabolism problems and increased cardiovascular risk. Toxicity poses occupational health concerns and potential systemic organ damage.
Associated Organs
- Primary Organ Systems Affected: • Pancreas (insulin production and glucose regulation) • Liver (metabolic processing and chromium storage) • Kidneys (chromium filtration and elimination) • Cardiovascular system (lipid metabolism and blood pressure)
- Conditions Associated with Low Chromium: • Type 2 diabetes mellitus • Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome • Hyperlipidemia (elevated cholesterol and triglycerides) • Obesity • Prediabetes • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) • Cardiovascular disease risk • Neuropathy (nerve damage in diabetes)
- Conditions Associated with High Chromium: • Chronic kidney disease (impaired elimination) • Occupational lung disease from chromium exposure • Allergic contact dermatitis • Liver dysfunction • Anemia • Hemolytic anemia (from hexavalent chromium) • Respiratory tract irritation or cancer (occupational exposure) • Gastrointestinal ulceration
- Complications of Abnormal Levels: Deficiency can lead to poor glucose control, complications of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic dysfunction. Toxicity can cause acute kidney injury, hepatotoxicity, respiratory damage, and systemic inflammation.
Follow-up Tests
- For Low Chromium Results: • Fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) to assess glucose control • Fasting insulin level to evaluate insulin resistance • Lipid panel (cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL) • Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) • C-peptide test to assess pancreatic function • Comprehensive metabolic panel (kidney and liver function) • Assessment of dietary chromium intake by nutritionist
- For High Chromium Results: • Comprehensive metabolic panel (BUN, creatinine, liver enzymes) • Urinalysis to assess kidney function and chromium excretion • Complete blood count (CBC) for anemia assessment • Pulmonary function tests if occupational exposure suspected • Chromium speciation test (trivalent vs hexavalent chromium) • Urine chromium level for confirmation • Occupational health history and workplace evaluation • Renal ultrasound if kidney dysfunction present
- Monitoring Frequency: • Baseline chromium level in all patients with type 2 diabetes • Recheck after 3 months of chromium supplementation (if prescribed) • Ongoing monitoring every 6-12 months in diabetic patients • Annual testing in occupational exposure settings • Monthly monitoring if chromium toxicity confirmed
- Complementary Tests: • Other trace minerals (zinc, selenium, copper) for nutritional assessment • Iron studies to evaluate anemia • Thyroid function tests (TSH, free T4) for metabolic evaluation • Micronutrient panel including other essential minerals
Fasting Required?
- Fasting Status: No
- Fasting is NOT required for the chromium blood test. The test can be performed at any time of day regardless of food or beverage intake.
- Patient Preparation: • Arrive well-hydrated for optimal blood draw • Inform phlebotomist of any occupational chromium exposure • Report all supplements, particularly chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate supplements • Advise healthcare provider of any recent welding, metal work, or industrial activities • No special restrictions on medications; continue normal medications as prescribed
- Medications and Supplements: • Continue all prescribed medications • Chromium supplements should be noted (do not discontinue without medical advice) • Inform laboratory of any trace mineral or multivitamin supplements being taken • No medication interactions affect this test
- Sample Collection: • Blood sample collected via venipuncture (arm vein) • Approximately 5-10 mL of blood obtained • Special collection tubes may be required to prevent chromium contamination • Sample analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) • Results typically available within 1-2 weeks
- Important Considerations: • Chromium is a trace mineral; contamination during collection can affect results • Some laboratories use special chromium-free collection tubes • Test is not routine; specific request or clinical indication usually required • Results interpretation requires clinical correlation with patient symptoms and other laboratory values

How our test process works!