Serum chromium and ageing.

Serum chromium levels were measured in 81 subjects (56 males and 25 females) with a mean age of 54 years (range 22-91 years). The mean serum chromium level in those under the age of 60 years was 1.6 +/- (SE) 0.125 ppb (30.7 +/- 2.4 nmol/l) whereas in those over the age 60 years it was 1.9 +/- 0.195 ppb (36.5 +/- 3.7 nmol/l). There was no evidence of any change in serum chromium levels with increasing age (r = 0.0096; p greater than 0.1) when all the subjects were considered. However, amongst the males a small but definite increase in serum chromium from 1.5 +/- 0.135 ppb (28.8 +/- 2.6 nmol/l to 2.1 +/- 0.25 ppb (40.6 +/- 4.8 nmol/l) was demonstrated.