Vitamins

[of_wolf_and_man]

hello all. my friend just told me this and i wanted to know about this stuff. He's been sick with this stomach virus and his nutritionalist (spellcheck...) told him about GTF CHROMIUM. She told him that this vitamin can help muscle growth when working out.

Im wondering if this chromium stuff is as good as protein and if anyone know if this thing has side effects? or will the muscle shrink once i stop having the stuff (like protein shakes)

if anyone has any ideas, please let me know! chur chur

[andrew_k]

Chromium is a mineral, like iron or calcium. It works as a co-factor for insulin. That is, it is essential for normal insulin activity. However like all vitamins and minerals supplementation will only result in improved performance if you are currently deficient. If you are eating well deficiency is highly unlikely. Whole grains (such as wholemeal bread and whole oats), bran cereals, seafood, green beans, broccoli, prunes, nuts, peanut butter, meat, lentils and potatoes are rich sources of chromium.

Its use as a supplement to enhance body composition arose as the result of one study ('Effect of Chromium Picolinate on Insulin Controlled Parameters in Humans,' International Journal of Biosocial and Medical Research, vol. 11, pp. 163-180, 1989) which indicated that football players who ingested 200 micrograms (mcg) of chromium per day were able to build more muscle and lose more fat compared to a chromium-free control group. However subsequent studies have shown no benefit. Furthermore some forms of chromium found in supplements have been found to alter the genetic material in cells, suggesting a link with cancer. Google for "insulin chromium" if you would like more information.

[Flex]

Firstly chromium is not a vitamin it's a mineral. Secondly it won't help with muscle growth unless the person is severly chromium deficient. It may help stabilise blood sugar levels and curb cravings for carbs due to possible effects on insulin resistance but that's about it as far as bodybuilding's concerned.

I'd recommend your friend find himself a new nutritionist.

And no your muscle won't shrink once you stop taking something. Your body will have a natural homeostasis and if you stop training then your body will eventually revert to what ever state is required. I would imagine you got this idea from hearing of people losing all their muscle when coming off gear, this is down to excessive water retention whilst "on". This water is lost once off hence resulting in loss of size. Another reason for many guys shrinking after a cycle is that excessive amounts of estrogen are produced to balance out the increased testosterone from the gear. Once the gear is stopped, the testosterone disappears, the body doesn't switch back on its natural T production and so with excess estrogen in the system the user finds they tend to lose strength and muscle. This normally occurs mostly with inexperienced users as with correct usage, excessive water retention and estrogen can be reduced.

If you stop using protein your muscle won't shrink. If you stop weight training you will eventually lose muscle. Depending on how long you have been training for, how much muscle mass you have, and how your lifestyle changes when you stop weight training it could take several years before you get anywhere near to looking how you did before you started training.

[Flex]

andrew_k - Looks like you beat me to it....

[andrew_k]

andrew_k - Looks like you beat me to it....

:grin: Sorry Flex, wasn't intentional. Still, I thought we complemented each other pretty well in the range of information we provided!