Sports Psychology

THE TRUTH ABOUT ""ANABOLIC STEROID REPLACERS", CHROMIUM PICOLINATE
by Dr. Ritchi Morris, D.Sci, .Ph.D., D.N. ,C.N.C., M.D.H., F.C.H.

Published in Natural Physique

In concert with the concept of Caveat Emptor, espoused by me in Part I, its meaning bears re-emphasis here: "Let the buyer beware". Since the writing of Part I, this principle of self-protection has become even more expedient because the campaigns to defraud and mislead natural trainees are burgeoning at an alarming rate. Indeed, their promises and claims have been so ridiculously fraudulent and outright fallacious as to have no basis in reality - let alone in scientific evidence!
Due to the ever-increasing implementation of steroid testing procedures now by some of the largest athletic organizations (e.g., the N.F.L., N.H.L., and major league baseball), these "herbal hucksters" have been forced to displace their efforts from their lagging anabolic steroid sales to alleged "natural anabolic steroid replacers" sales. In order to accomplish this, these charlatans have developed the behavior pattern more and more obscure substances and or creating unorthodox combinations s theron for which there exists little or no legitimate research. They then present said substances as "miracle muscle and/or mass builders" before researchers like myself can unmask their fraud and sound the warning bell of alarm. Their key marketing device is to link whatever this "substance de jour" may be to testosterone. Whether or not there is truly any connection to testosterone matters little. For, in the absence of any legitimate scientific research, there can be no refutation of their claims. Moreover, they're exploiting the natural athlete's desire to excel. This is the most unconscionable aspect of these fraudulent campaigns.

As noted before their chicanery is predicated upon two notions: A. Their awareness of the lack of knowledge about these substances generally by coaches, doctors, athletes, and others. They realize that most doctors, phys. ed coaches and teachers do not study Herbology, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy - let alone the athletes themselves in general ; and B. Any mention or hint of testosterone involvement will pique the buyers' curiosity and stimulate their buying. To reiterate, as a naturopath, homeopath and sports psychologist, I assert that, while natural substances, herbs and botanicals can be very beneficial when used correctly, their indiscriminate overuse and over dosages can also spell negative and deleterious results.

The present pattern of irresponsible advertising and/or sales of unmonitored herbal elemental substances is dangerous and disease-promoting. It is scary in that many of the side effects from the abuse of these substances (e.g., Yohimbe; Cyclofenil; Smilax; Dibencozide; and chromium picolinate) parallel or even surpass the side effects of some anabolic steroids. In some instances their side effects wreak their own unique form of damage which can be even worse than the damage from anabolic steroids. It must be re-emphasized that many of these herbal elements which seem foreign and exotic to Americans or Western worlders are valuable and well-known to cultures of the Mideast and Far East. I have studied and practiced with herbal, homeopathic and naturopathic remedies for many ; ears. I have seen that the application of the appropriate herbal/ botanical substances in the appropriate dosages can be a very powerful healing and/or balancing tool. However, there also can be adverse effects if these same remedies are employed incorrectly.

Thus, this series continues with the focus here on one of the most currently popular, misrepresented natural substances in today's "herbal hoax" market: chromium picolinate. Future segments of this series will explore other nutrients such as Smilax; Cyclofenil; Dibencozide; and Boron.

Although chromium picolinate, has been shown to have certain limited positive effects it is also the latest rage in the "herbal hoax" campaign to bilk natural trainees of their money. The main device that they usually employ has been to promulgate the notion that testosterone is the most essential and only anabolic hormone responsible for strength and mass building. They then allege (without regard for fact or reality) that any substance which enters their fantasies is a natural source of testosterone and therefore a natural anabolic steroid. This is the grandest misconception of all. The fact is that insulin is the body's primary anabolic hormone!

Several recent studies have demonstrated a true ability of chromium picolinate to accelerate the body's development of lean body mass while decreasing levels of body fat. But these results were contingent upon the mechanism of insulin and had no relation whatsoever to testosterone.

Much has been written about the valuable role of amino acids in processing protein and promoting muscular growth. Without insulin this would not occur, for these amino acids need insulin in order to pass from the blood through the cell walls and become assimilated by the cells properly. In effect, insulin acts as an "escort" for the amino acids. However, without chromium, insulin cannot function in this manner at all. Moreover, there is a specific type of chromium which is biologically active and facilitates the above process best: the picolinic acid form.

The relationship between amino acids and chromium proves itself even more intimate here because picolinic acid is a metabolic derivative of the amino acid tryptophan. When in the blood and in the intestines, picolinic acid combines with trace mineral ions to promote the utilization of essential trace minerals by the body's cells. Since picolinic acid is produced by the body naturally, it follows that it merges with the essential trace mineral chromium (called an "Oligo element" in Naturopathy) easily an this combination appears to be very efficacious for muscle mass production. The Oligo elements (e.g., chromium, gold, silver, manganese, phosphorus, cobain each can have a very beneficial effect on the health and anabolic function of the body in their own manner. These Oligo elements function in a way to rectify disease or disorder intracellularly. In dysfunctlonal cells, toxic inhibitors such as lead distort the substrate binding sites of cellular enzymes, thus preventing normal enzymatic action and function.

To address this problem, Oligo elements first work upon the cells' enzymes by being introduced with precise, low 'level, minute amounts which serve to detoxify and activate blocked enzyme processes. Adulterated foods, environmental pollutant S. and disease toxins all contribute to celluar dysfunction and resulting illness. When occurs, enzyme activity within a cell becomes inhibited so that the cell can no longer utilize the very nutrients that would allow .t to function normally. The appropriate concentrations, which differ with each. Ollgo eiement and malady, can serve to bring about a state of detoxification and restored balance within each cell in the body. The combination of picolinic acid with chromium appears to magnify the anabolic properties of insulin.

Herein lies the mechanism o' chromium picolinate's ability to increase :eon body mass. Since insulin is the most essential link in the muscle-building chain, research literature delineates the three most rudimentary ways that picolinic acid aids insulin in building lean muscle mass: A. It enhances the rate at which protein is synthesized by the body; B. It promotes intracellular uptake of the free amino acids from the blood and assimilation by the cells; and C. It retards the rate of protein degradation by the body intracellularly.

Two recent studies have demonstrated this process. Both were conducted by Dr. Gary Evans, a research scientist working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Evans therory d that beca of the relationship of chromium to insulin lined above, high levels of chromium in the body would have a growth effect on skeletal muscles. To test this theory, Dr. Evans conducted a 40-day weight lifting study with students at Bemidji State University of Minnesota. All the students were placed on a three-hour per week weight training program. Body dimension measurements, and a skin fold test were given before and after the study. Half of the students were given 200 mcg. daily of chromium and half were given a placebo (calcium phosphate). The subjects consumed one capsule per day for 40 days. The contents of the capsules were known only to an individual who was in no way involved in the study. The form of chromium that was used was chromium picolinate. The results of the study showed that the group known as the experimental group using chromium picolinate gained 3.5 pounds of weight over 40 days, nearly all of it lean muscle mass. The control group which used the placebo managed only 2 ounces of muscle gain.

In a second study by Dr. Evans, 42 football players at the same university volunteered to participate in a similar double-blind study to his first study. Each of the athletes were given, again, either 200 mcg. of chromium picolinate or the same placebo for 42 days. Thirty one subjects completed the study. Once again, careful measurements were taken as in the first study. All measurements were obtained at the beginning, and taken every 14 days until the completion of the 42 days in the study. In the group taking the chromium picolinate the lean body mass increased significantly after only 14 days and continued to increase to 5.69 pounds on an average at the end of the study. Total body fat decreased significantly (a loss of 22% body fat). In the group taking the placebo, lean body mass did not change significantly, body fat decreased only 1.06% and the change in total body weight was not significant. It is significant to note here that the dosage used by Dr. Evans was limited to 200 mcg. per day and that no mention is made of any other supplements or of the dietary regimen that was being followed or administered before, during or after the experimentation with all the subjects in both groups for both studies.

This concludes Part IIA about chromium picolinate. In our next issue, the positive and negative implications of chromium picolinate and Dr. Morris' conclusions are offered.