Dr. Murray posted this on the FAIML. I have his permission to forward it
to this list.
Linda Iroff
Oberlin OH
>More on Chromium
>Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 02:47:48 EDT
>From: [log in to unmask]
>It sounds like there is still some confusion about chromium, how it
>works, and what "helps to regulate blood glucose levels " actually means.
>Chromium is an essential trace element. Chromium supplementation is often
>recommended for people and pets (dogs and cats) with diabetes. Diabetics
>are basically the opposite of insulinoma ferrets because diabetics have a
>high blood glucose (sugar) level. Chromium helps to lower their high
>blood glucose levels. This is where the phrase "helps to regulate blood
>glucose levels" comes from. Chromium also has insulin like action that
>helps to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat and weight. This is
>also a good thing for diabetics, and the reason chromium is often used as
>a weight loss agent. On the other hand, the goal of medical therapy for
>an insulinoma ferret is to raise the blood glucose level. Clearly it
>does not make sense to give chromium that will lower an already low blood
>glucose level, nor does it make sense to give chromium that has insulin
>like properties when there is already too much insulin being produced by
>the insulinoma. Remember medical therapy is a combination of 3 things:
>DIET, PEDIAPRED, and PROGLYCEM.
>
>The DIET needs to be a high quality, high meat-based ferret food or kitten
>food. Cooked meats (beef, chicken, turkey, fish), cooked eggs, Gerber's
>chicken baby food, Hill's A/D and/or Eukanuba's feline maximum calorie can
>all be used as supplements, treats, and when the ferret is anorectic.
>A/D, baby food, and maximum calorie can be syringed fed when needed.
>The extra protein provides both amino acids and a substrate for glucose
>production by the liver (gluconeogenesis). Perhaps the ideal diet would
>have (on a dry matter basis) 55- 60% protein, 20-30% fat, and <10% carbo-
>hydrates. This is close to what "Bob's chicken gravy" has. However I
>totally disagree with adding brewer's yeast or chromium to it!
>
>PEDIAPRED helps to raise blood glucose levels, inhibits utilization of
>glucose, and has some antiinsulin activity. This is why pediapred is
>the first medicine used to treat insulinoma ferrets.
>
>PROGLYCEM helps to raise blood glucose levels by lowering the amount of
>insulin secreted by the pancreas. Due to its high cost and bad taste, it
>is usually added when pediapred is no longer able to control the blood
>glucose levels.
>
>Remember chromium does not raise blood glucose levels. It lowers the
>blood glucose levels, so I would not give it to an insulinoma ferret.
>
>Jerry Murray, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3127]
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