Chromium supplements may aid some with depression

Supplements containing the mineral chromium may be useful in treating some cases of Depression - particularly when carbohydrate craving is a prominent symptom, a new study suggests.

The study, of 113 people with a disorder known as atypical Depression, found that although chromium picolinate supplements were no more effective than an inactive pill in relieving Depression overall, they did appear to aid certain, mainly appetite-related, symptoms.

Moreover, a subgroup of patients - those who said they had "irrepressible cravings" for sweets and starches - did show a general improvement in Depression symptoms after taking the supplement.

Exactly why chromium supplements seemed to aid these patients is not completely clear. However, the study authors speculate the improvements in the body's use of insulin, the key hormonal regulator of blood sugar, may be the reason.

Symptoms of depression can vary widely - and they don't always involve the sadness or weepiness that people commonly associate with it. Many people will experience intellectual or psychological changes that affect their thinking, sleep, or energy level.

In addition, different types of depression may produce additional symptoms:

• Major depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Dysthymia
• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

For more information check: symptoms of depression "While these findings require replication in a prospective trial, they suggest that chromium picolinate may be beneficial for patients with atypical Depression who are also high carbohydrate cravers," Dr. John P. Docherty and his colleagues report in the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

Docherty is an adjunct professor of psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York, and head of Comprehensive Neurosciences, Inc., which contracts with drug and supplement makers to conduct clinical trials of their products. Nutrition 21, Inc., which markets the Chromax supplement used in the study, funded the research.

Chromium, a mineral that the body needs in trace amounts, is found naturally in meat, whole grains and certain vegetables and fruits like broccoli, potatoes and apples. The mineral enhances the action of insulin and helps break down carbohydrates, fat and protein. Because of this, chromium supplements are being studied for the treatment and prevention of Diabetes, in which the cells of the body lose their sensitivity to insulin.

Researchers have long noted associations between Depression, and , Docherty and his colleagues point out. For example, people with have been found to have higher rates of insulin resistance, a precursor to .