Delivery of chromium to tissues: molecular mechanisms & dependencies

How nutrients influence it

Every nutrient with a recorded effect on this component, credited to the nutrient that acted rather than the chapter that recorded it. Open a nutrient to see the findings and the conditions they were measured under.

Human evidence only

How nutrients reach it in more than one step

Chains of two or more recorded steps that end here, grouped by the nutrient they start from. Each step is a separate finding, so a chain is a route a mechanism could take, not proof that it does.

Tracing routes…

What it does

Every recorded relationship this component is part of, grouped by its role. Plain wording comes first; the technical statement follows.

Recorded relationships

What acts on it

Glycated transferrin retained two chromium-binding equivalents but had altered spectroscopic behavior and greatly reduced chromium delivery in rats.
Experimentally glycated transferrin (species not specified in indexed abstract) → Delivery of chromium to tissues source_derived_draftungraded
Experimental context and source evidence
availability_state
machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
evidence_span
{"source_cache": "artifacts/chromium-research/27592288.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "541c9ba554cad6d899569dc16cdd68b1125542e2df006cb50db19f66d6e78d09", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1460, "text_sha256": "541c9ba554cad6d899569dc16cdd68b1125542e2df006cb50db19f66d6e78d09"}
experimental_model
Transferrin incubation, metal binding and rat delivery experiments
exposure
Transferrin stored at 37°C with or without glucose before chromium binding and delivery assays
limitations
Protein storage itself altered binding. The glycated-protein result does not establish chromium deficiency in human diabetes or a treatment response.
nutrient_topic
Chromium research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Chromium
organism
Purified transferrin and rat in-vivo transport
plain_language
A carrier can still bind the metal yet distribute it less effectively.
primary_references
[chromium-p27592288] The effects of the glycation of transferrin on chromium binding and the transport and distribution of chromium in vivo. (2016). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27592288/ DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.08.008
tissue_or_cell_type
Carrier protein and systemic chromium distribution
trigger_kind
machinery_impairment Imported condition classification; unverified.
Chromium: transport, insulin signaling, nutrient interactions and essentiality debate (2026-09-17) · lines 471–482
AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Transferrin incubation, metal binding and rat delivery experiments · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft
### chromium-glycated-transferrin-delivery Glycated transferrin retained two chromium-binding equivalents but had altered spectroscopic behavior and greatly reduced chromium delivery in rats. Condition category: machinery_impairment nutrient_topic: Chromium research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: A carrier can still bind the metal yet distribute it less effectively. organism: Purified transferrin and rat in-vivo transport tissue_or_cell_type: Carrier protein and systemic chromium distribution experimental_model: Transferrin incubation, metal binding and rat delivery experiments limitations: Protein storage itself altered binding. The glycated-protein result does not establish chromium deficiency in human diabetes or a treatment response. exposure: Transferrin stored at 37°C with or without glucose before chromium binding and delivery assays evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/chromium-research/27592288.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "541c9ba554cad6d899569dc16cdd68b1125542e2df006cb50db19f66d6e78d09", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1460, "text_sha256": "541c9ba554cad6d899569dc16cdd68b1125542e2df006cb50db19f66d6e78d09"} [chromium-p27592288] The effects of the glycation of transferrin on chromium binding and the transport and distribution of chromium in vivo. (2016). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27592288/ DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.08.008
Complete structured claim and evidence
Insulin stimulated transferrin-associated chromium transport from blood into rat tissues, with liver and kidneys prominent destinations.
Insulin → Delivery of chromium to tissues source_derived_draftungraded
Experimental context and source evidence
evidence_span
{"source_cache": "artifacts/chromium-research/11472024.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "8760ddbb2dd372b94d71880c6c95441fb876ed2196b4f111988aae1244b3daba", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1224, "text_sha256": "8760ddbb2dd372b94d71880c6c95441fb876ed2196b4f111988aae1244b3daba"}
experimental_model
In-vivo chromium tracing with insulin stimulation
exposure
Administered chromium with transferrin transport and insulin comparisons
limitations
Rat tracer findings do not establish a required human insulin-signaling cofactor. Identification of urinary chromodulin was tentative in the indexed abstract.
nutrient_topic
Chromium research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Chromium
organism
Rat
plain_language
An insulin signal changed chromium distribution in this rat experiment.
primary_references
[chromium-p11472024] The trail of chromium(III) in vivo from the blood to the urine: the roles of transferrin and chromodulin. (2001). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11472024/ DOI: 10.1007/s007750100238
tissue_or_cell_type
Blood, tissues and urine
Chromium: transport, insulin signaling, nutrient interactions and essentiality debate (2026-09-17) · lines 198–209
AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · In-vivo chromium tracing with insulin stimulation · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft
### chromium-insulin-chromium-delivery Insulin stimulated transferrin-associated chromium transport from blood into rat tissues, with liver and kidneys prominent destinations. Condition category: normal nutrient_topic: Chromium research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: An insulin signal changed chromium distribution in this rat experiment. organism: Rat tissue_or_cell_type: Blood, tissues and urine experimental_model: In-vivo chromium tracing with insulin stimulation limitations: Rat tracer findings do not establish a required human insulin-signaling cofactor. Identification of urinary chromodulin was tentative in the indexed abstract. exposure: Administered chromium with transferrin transport and insulin comparisons evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/chromium-research/11472024.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "8760ddbb2dd372b94d71880c6c95441fb876ed2196b4f111988aae1244b3daba", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1224, "text_sha256": "8760ddbb2dd372b94d71880c6c95441fb876ed2196b4f111988aae1244b3daba"} [chromium-p11472024] The trail of chromium(III) in vivo from the blood to the urine: the roles of transferrin and chromodulin. (2001). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11472024/ DOI: 10.1007/s007750100238
Complete structured claim and evidence
Chromium supplementation raised tissue chromium less strongly in iron-deficient rats than in rats with adequate iron.
Iron → Delivery of chromium to tissues source_derived_draftungraded
Experimental context and source evidence
availability_state
nutrient_deficiency Imported condition classification; unverified.
evidence_span
{"source_cache": "artifacts/chromium-research/29173471.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "9de0b60d39b67304da3d1042ebc5f1ed5622a5675e6a0cda4c531bf64249ef2e", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1448, "text_sha256": "9de0b60d39b67304da3d1042ebc5f1ed5622a5675e6a0cda4c531bf64249ef2e"}
experimental_model
Six-week factorial chromium/iron feeding study
exposure
Iron at 10% versus 100% of the study reference level; chromium propionate at 1, 50 or 500 mg Cr/kg diet
limitations
Very high chromium doses in an animal experiment. Changes do not establish a recommended human ratio, a chromium rescue for anemia or a universal competition rule.
nutrient_topic
Chromium research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. · Chromium
organism
Female Wistar rats
plain_language
Low iron did not simply free more carrier space and increase chromium accumulation.
primary_references
[chromium-p29173471] The combined effect of supplementary Cr(III) propionate complex and iron deficiency on the chromium and iron status in female rats. (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29173471/ DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.10.010
tissue_or_cell_type
Tissue metals and hematologic indices
trigger_kind
nutrient_deficiency Imported condition classification; unverified.
Chromium: transport, insulin signaling, nutrient interactions and essentiality debate (2026-09-17) · lines 484–495
AI-assisted literature curation; primary study URLs and scope retained in the document and extraction. Not publisher full text. · supports · Six-week factorial chromium/iron feeding study · source_derived_draft · unverified_draft
### chromium-iron-deficiency-chromium Chromium supplementation raised tissue chromium less strongly in iron-deficient rats than in rats with adequate iron. Condition category: nutrient_deficiency nutrient_topic: Chromium research collection; topical membership is not evidence of a direct dietary effect. plain_language: Low iron did not simply free more carrier space and increase chromium accumulation. organism: Female Wistar rats tissue_or_cell_type: Tissue metals and hematologic indices experimental_model: Six-week factorial chromium/iron feeding study limitations: Very high chromium doses in an animal experiment. Changes do not establish a recommended human ratio, a chromium rescue for anemia or a universal competition rule. exposure: Iron at 10% versus 100% of the study reference level; chromium propionate at 1, 50 or 500 mg Cr/kg diet evidence_span: {"source_cache": "artifacts/chromium-research/29173471.abstract.txt", "locator": "Exact primary indexed abstract; zero-based, end-exclusive Unicode character offsets", "file_sha256": "9de0b60d39b67304da3d1042ebc5f1ed5622a5675e6a0cda4c531bf64249ef2e", "start_char": 0, "end_char": 1448, "text_sha256": "9de0b60d39b67304da3d1042ebc5f1ed5622a5675e6a0cda4c531bf64249ef2e"} [chromium-p29173471] The combined effect of supplementary Cr(III) propionate complex and iron deficiency on the chromium and iron status in female rats. (2018). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29173471/ DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2017.10.010
Complete structured claim and evidence

The events it takes part in

A mechanism often involves more than two components. These are the full events, with every participant and its role.

Situations it appears in

Low-supply and faulty-machinery situations recorded in the chapters where this component plays a part.

In the sources

Preserved passages that mention this component, quoted exactly. Open one to read it in context.

Open hypotheses

Proposed ideas that involve this component. They are labeled as hypotheses and do not change any recorded statement.

This is a research prototype built from draft material. It is not medical advice, and its statements still await verification against the original studies.

Delivery of chromium to tissues

How nutrients influence it

Other things that act on it