Chromium Piccolinate and Atrial Fibrillation

[Braveheart]

I also had an aortic valve replacement at the end of June, followed by three bouts of a-fib, during the first couple of months post-op. I am now taking Multaq.

For quite a while I had been taking chromium piccolinate as a supplement in order to control my weight. During the last few months, I had stopped taking the chromium, and my weight was creeping upwards. I blamed it on my medical problems, and the fact that not only am I not exercising as much as before the procedure, I had been indulging in too much food.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought myself a bottle of chromium piccolinate. Since then, changing nothing else, I have dropped 8 pounds.

I decided to do some research, and found something very disturbing. Although the "jury is out" on the effectiveness of the supplement, I am seeing mention of abnormal heart rhythms caused by the chromium.

Is anyone familiar with this? I don't want to do anything that will make my recovery from valve replacement more difficult, but I feel that the chromium is making a real difference in the way that I am looking and feeling.

The thing that gets me, is that medical writers get all out of joint over the possible problems of supplements. They are less concerned about drugs like amiodarone, which was doing a "number" on my lungs, until I got a better doctor than my original cardio, who switched me to the Multaq.

Anyhow, if anyone has any info on this subject, I would appreciate some feedback. Thanks!

 

[Mileena46]

I have no answer, but would like to drop a few pounds after the holidays and just bet I can't do it the way I did before. One more thing to worry about....if you can't overindulge in green veggies while on Coumadin....I will just have to stay FAT!

Mileena

 

[james]

Chromium seems to even out blood sugar irregularities and that reduces cravings. All I know is that during the time when I took it every day I lost 30 lbs. Though I was also car less at the time and walked 1.5 miles down to the fish market every day where I worked my butt off for 11 hours.... could have helped

 

[Braveheart]

I have no answer, but would like to drop a few pounds after the holidays and just bet I can't do it the way I did before. One more thing to worry about....if you can't overindulge in green veggies while on Coumadin....I will just have to stay FAT!

Mileena

Funny that you should mention green veggies. I was started on coumadin a few months ago. At first the doc warned me about the veggies. Then, in the next breath, he told me that if I had always eaten a certain amount of the greens, I could continue. How's that for a double message???

 

[Bill B]

Funny that you should mention green veggies. I was started on coumadin a few months ago. At first the doc warned me about the veggies. Then, in the next breath, he told me that if I had always eaten a certain amount of the greens, I could continue. How's that for a double message???

The point he was making is to be consistent and that will help your INR to be more stable. Pretty standard advice even if it seems contradictory.

 

[tobagotwo]

At least he redeemed himself with the second sentence. Dose the diet.

There are different formulations of Chromium. I take chromium polynicotinate, also known as GTF (glucose tolerance factor) chromium. It helps to enhance insulin's interactions in the body's sugar transactions. There are a lot of references to both on the web, but no negatives (other than overdosing) associated with the polynicotinate form, which is basically chromium bound by niacin.

There are statements that the chromium in chromium picolinate can "break off," and that is when it can (reportedly) cause heart rhythm irregulatities in a small percentage of people, and may even become carcinogenic when taken along with ascorbic acid (vitamin C).

I can't vouch for the accuracy of these statements, but am pointing them out if you wish to research them.

Best wishes,