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RATIONALE: Recent case series suggest that chromium picolinate in doses of 400 microg daily may have antidepressant properties, perhaps through increasing the peripheral availability of tryptophan for brain serotonin (5-HT) synthesis. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of chromium treatment on plasma tryptophan availability and on brain 5-HT function in human and animal models. METHODS: We studied the effects of short-term chromium supplementation on plasma concentrations of tryptophan and other large neutral amino acids. Brain 5-HT function was assessed by measuring the corticosterone/cortisol response to the 5-HT precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a response believed to be mediated via indirect activation of 5-HT(2A) receptors. RESULTS: In rats, chromium increased peripheral and central tryptophan availability and elevated brain 5-HT content. Changes in peripheral tryptophan availability were not seen in humans but in both rats and humans, chromium lowered the cortisol response to challenge with 5-HTP. CONCLUSIONS: Chromium can modify brain 5-HT function in humans and animals, perhaps by altering the sensitivity of central 5-HT(2A) receptors.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s00213-001-0960-7

Type

Journal article

Journal

Psychopharmacology (Berl)

Publication Date

02/2002

Volume

159

Pages

432 - 436

Keywords

Adult, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Brain, Chromium, Corticosterone, Cross-Over Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A, Receptors, Serotonin, Serotonin, Single-Blind Method, Tryptophan