Chromium picolinate safety

Three new studies set up to evaluate the safety of chromium picolinate have all found that it is safe to consume in commonly consumed doses.

Chromium is an essential mineral that plays a key role in insulin function and blood sugar control. Chromium has a low bioavailability unless taken in salt form, such as chromium picolinate.

Chromium picolinate is taken as a dietary supplement by diabetics, those wishing to maintain an ideal weight, and by sports people wishing to gain muscle and/or stamina.

The first of the latest studies to be published in the December 2004 issue of the International Journal of Toxicology was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 100 subjects, including 70 clinically depressed patients.

No significant adverse effects were found in patients receiving 400-600 µg/day of chromium picolinate orally for up to eight weeks.

The second study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism administered 924 micrograms per day of chromium picolinate for twelve weeks, to non-diabetic individuals who performed resistance training twice weekly [1]. This study focused on possible damage caused to kidney and liver tissues. No damage was observed at the end of the trial period.

The third study published in the journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology in September 2004, also seeking to evaluate the safety of chromium picolinate, was research funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Toxicology Program. During a 13 week toxicity study on rats and mice no negative effects, including genotoxic ones, were found for chromium picolinate.

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References
1. Campbell WW, Joseph LJ, Ostlund RE Jr, Anderson RA, Farrell PA, Evans WJ. (2004). Resistive training and chromium picolinate: effects on inositols and liver and kidney functions in older adults. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Aug;14(4):430-442