The geography of diabetes and vascular occlusive disease in relation to chromium

Abstract

Prima facie evidence is presented that, where naturally occuring chromium in water supplies occurs, it is associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes and a lower incidence of mortality from vascular occlusive disease. It is postulated that increased prevalence of such disease in a population is associated with chromium 3 deprivation. This results from consumption of highly refined cereal foods which are known to have most of the chromium content removed with the fibre. Water chromium may mitigate these effects.