Find, compare & contact
Chromic citrate API Manufacturers & Suppliers

General Description:

Chromic citrate is a chemical compound identified by the CAS number 57072-40-9. It is known for its distinct pharmacological properties and applications.

Indications:

This drug is primarily indicated for: Indicated for use as a supplement to intravenous solutions given for total parenteral nutrition (TPN), to maintain chromium serum levels and to prevent depletion of endogenous stores and subsequent deficiency symptoms . Its use in specific medical scenarios underscores its importance in the therapeutic landscape.

Metabolism:

Chromic citrate undergoes metabolic processing primarily in: The metabolism of Cr (VI) involves reduction by small molecules and enzyme systems to generate Cr (III) and reactive intermediates. During this process, free radicals can be generated, which is thought to induce damage of cellular components and cause toxicity of chromium . The metabolites bind to cellular constituents . This metabolic pathway ensures efficient processing of the drug, helping to minimize potential toxicity and side effects.

Absorption:

The absorption characteristics of Chromic citrate are crucial for its therapeutic efficacy: Chromium compounds are both absorbed by the lung and the gastrointestinal tract. Oral absorption of chromium compounds in humans can range between 0.5% and 10%, with the hexavalent (VI) chromium more easily absorbed than the trivalent (III) form . Absorption of chromium from the intestinal tract is low, ranging from less than 0.4% to 2.5% of the amount consumed . Vitamin C and the vitamin B niacin is reported to enhance chromium absorption . Most hexavalent Cr (VI) undergoes partial intragastric reduction to Cr (III) upon absorption, which is an action mainly mediated by sulfhydryl groups of amino acids . Cr (VI) readily penetrates cell membranes and chromium can be found in both erythrocytes and plasma after gastrointestinal absorption of Cr (IV). In comparison, the presence of chromium is limited to the plasma as Cr (III) displays poor cell membrane penetration . Once transported through the cell membrane, Cr (VI) is rapidly reduced to Cr (III), which subsequently binds to macromolecules or conjugate with proteins. Cr (III) may be bound to transferrin or other plasma proteins, or as complexes, such as glucose tolerance factor (GTF). The drug's ability to rapidly penetrate into cells ensures quick onset of action.

Half-life:

The half-life of Chromic citrate is an important consideration for its dosing schedule: The elimination half-life of hexavalent chromium is 15 to 41 hours . This determines the duration of action and helps in formulating effective dosing regimens.

Protein Binding:

Chromic citrate exhibits a strong affinity for binding with plasma proteins: In the blood, 95% of chromium (III) is bound to large molecular mass proteins, such as transferrin, while a small proportion associates with low molecular mass oligopeptides . Serum chromium is bound to transferrin in the beta globulin fraction . This property plays a key role in the drug's pharmacokinetics and distribution within the body.

Route of Elimination:

The elimination of Chromic citrate from the body primarily occurs through: Absorbed chromium is excreted mainly in the urine, accounting for 80% of total excretion of chromium; small amounts are lost in hair, perspiration and bile . Chromium is excreted primarily in the urine by glomerular filtration or bound to a low molecular-weight organic transporter . Understanding this pathway is essential for assessing potential drug accumulation and toxicity risks.

Volume of Distribution:

Chromic citrate is distributed throughout the body with a volume of distribution of: Absorbed chromium is distributed to all tissues of the body and its distribution in the body depends on the species, age, and chemical form . Circulating Cr (III) following oral or parenteral administration of different compounds can be taken up by tissues and accumulates in the liver, kidney, spleen, soft tissue, and bone . This metric indicates how extensively the drug permeates into body tissues.

Clearance:

The clearance rate of Chromic citrate is a critical factor in determining its safe and effective dosage: Excretion of chromium is via the kidneys ranges from 3 to 50 μg/day . The 24-hour urinary excretion rates for normal human subjects are reported to be 0.22 μg/day . It reflects the efficiency with which the drug is removed from the systemic circulation.

Pharmacodynamics:

Chromic citrate exerts its therapeutic effects through: Trivalent chromium is part of glucose tolerance factor, an essential activator of insulin-mediated reactions. Chromium helps to maintain normal glucose metabolism and peripheral nerve function. Chromium increases insulin binding to cells, increases insulin receptor density and activates insulin receptor kinase leading to enhanced insulin sensitivity . In chromium deficiency, intravenous administration of chromium resulted in normalization of the glucose tolerance curve from the diabetic-like curve typical of chromium deficiency . The drug's ability to modulate various physiological processes underscores its efficacy in treating specific conditions.

Mechanism of Action:

Chromic citrate functions by: Chromium is an essential nutrient involved in the metabolism of glucose, insulin and blood lipids. Its role in potentiating insulin signalling cascades has been implicated in several studies. Chromium upregulates insulin-stimulated insulin signal transduction via affecting effector molecules downstream of the insulin receptor (IR). IR-mediated signalling pathway involves phoshorylation of multiple intracellular domains and protein kinases, and downstream effector molecules . Upon activation by ligands, intracellular β-subunit of IR autophosphorylates and activates tyrosine kinase domain of the IR, followed by activation and phosphorylation of regulatory proteins and downstream signalling effectors including phosphatidylinositol 2-kinase (PI3K). PI3K activates further downstream reaction cascades to activate protein kinase B (Akt) to ultimately promote translocation of glucose transporter-4 (Glut4)-vesicles from the cytoplasm to the cell surface and regulate glucose uptake . Chromium enhances the kinase activity of insulin receptor β and increases the activity of downstream effectors, pI3-kinase and Akt. Under insulin-resistant conditions, chromium also promotes GLUT-4 transporter translocation that is independent of activity of IR, IRS-1, PI3-kinase, or Akt; chromium mediates cholesterol efflux from the membranes via increasing fluidity of the membrane by decreasing the membrane cholesterol and upregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein . As a result, intracellular GLUT-4 transporters are stimulated to translocate from intracellular to the plasma membrane, leading to enhanced glucose uptake in muscle cells . Chromium attenuates the activity of PTP-1B _in vitro,_ which is a negative regulator of insulin signaling. It also alleviates ER stress that is observed to be elevated the suppression of insulin signaling. ER stress is thought to activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which subsequently induces serine phosphorylation of IRS and aberration of insulin signalling . Transient upregulation of AMPK by chromium also leads to increased glucose uptake . This mechanism highlights the drug's role in inhibiting or promoting specific biological pathways, contributing to its therapeutic effects.

Toxicity:

Classification:

Chromic citrate belongs to the class of organic compounds known as tricarboxylic acids and derivatives. These are carboxylic acids containing exactly three carboxyl groups, classified under the direct parent group Tricarboxylic acids and derivatives. This compound is a part of the Organic compounds, falling under the Organic acids and derivatives superclass, and categorized within the Carboxylic acids and derivatives class, specifically within the Tricarboxylic acids and derivatives subclass.

Categories:

Chromic citrate is categorized under the following therapeutic classes: Drugs that are Mainly Renally Excreted. These classifications highlight the drug's diverse therapeutic applications and its importance in treating various conditions.