Also indexed as: Glucose Tolerance Factor
(GTF Chromium)
What is it?
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps the body maintain
normal blood sugar levels.
In addition to its well-studied effects in diabetes, preliminary
research has found that chromium supplementation also improves glucose
tolerance in people with Turner’s syndrome—a disease linked with glucose
intolerance.1
Chromium may also play a role in increasing HDL ("good") cholesterol,2
while lowering total cholesterol levels.3
Chromium, in a form called chromium picolinate, has been studied for
its potential role in altering body composition. Preliminary research in
animals4 and humans5 6 suggested that
chromium picolinate increases fat loss and promotes a gain in lean
muscle tissue. Double-blind research has also reported a reduction in
body fat7 and body weight8 in people given 400 mcg
of chromium (as chromium picolinate) per day for three months. However,
other studies have failed to show a significant effect of chromium
picolinate on body composition.9
Where is it found?
The best source of chromium is true brewer’s yeast. Nutritional yeast
and torula yeast do not contain significant amounts of chromium and are
not suitable substitutes for brewer’s yeast. Chromium is also found in
grains and cereals, though much of it is lost when these foods are
refined. Some brands of beer contain significant amounts of chromium.
Chromium has been used in connection with the following conditions
(refer to the individual health concern for
complete information):
Who is likely to be deficient?
Most people eat less than the U.S. National Academy of Science’s
recommended range of 50–200 mcg per day. The high incidence of
adult-onset diabetes suggests to some doctors that many people should be
supplementing with small amounts of chromium.
How much is usually taken?
A daily intake of 200 mcg is recommended by many doctors.
Are there any side effects or
interactions?
In supplemental amounts (typically 50–300 mcg per day), chromium has
not been found to cause toxicity in humans. While there are a few
reports of people developing medical problems while taking chromium, a
cause-effect relationship was not proven. One study suggested that
chromium in very high concentrations in a test tube could cause
chromosomal mutations in ovarian cells of hamsters.10 11
Chromium picolinate can be altered by antioxidants or hydrogen peroxide
in the body to a form that could itself create free radical damage.12
In theory, these changes could increase the risk of cancer, but so far,
chromium intake has not been linked to increased incidence of cancer in
humans.13
Chromium supplementation may enhance the effects of drugs for
diabetes (e.g., insulin, blood sugar-lowering agents) and possibly lead
to hypoglycemia. Therefore, people with diabetes taking these
medications should supplement with chromium only under the supervision
of a doctor.
One report of severe illness (including liver and kidney damage)
occurring in a person who was taking 1,000 mcg of chromium per day has
been reported.14 However, chromium supplementation was not
proven to be the cause of these problems. Another source claimed that
there have been reports of mild heart rhythm abnormalities with
excessive chromium ingestion.15 However, no published
evidence supports this assertion.
Three single, unrelated cases of toxicity have been reported from use
of chromium picolinate. A case of kidney failure appeared after taking
600 mcg per day for six weeks.16 A case of anemia, liver
dysfunction, and other problems appeared after four to five months of
1,200–2,400 mcg per day.17 A case of a muscle disease known
as rhabdomyolysis appeared in a body builder who took 1200 mcg over 48
hours.18 Whether these problems were caused by chromium
picolinate or, if so, whether other forms of chromium might have the
same effects at these high amounts remains unclear. No one should take
more than 300 mcg per day of chromium without the supervision of a
doctor.
Preliminary research has found that vitamin C increases the
absorption of chromium.19
Are there any drug
interactions?
Certain medicines may interact with chromium. Refer to drug interactions
for a list of those medicines.
References
1. Saner G, Yüzbasiyan V, Neyzi O, et al.
Alterations of chromium metabolism and effect of chromium
supplementation in Turner’s syndrome patients. Am J Clin Nutr
1983;38:574-8.
2. Riales R, Albrink MJ. Effect of chromium
chloride supplementation on glucose tolerance and serum lipids including
high-density lipoprotein of adult men. Am J Clin Nutr
1981;34:2670-8.
3. Wang MM, Fox EZ, Stoecker BJ, et al. Serum
cholesterol of adults supplemented with brewer’s yeast or chromium
chloride. Nutr Res 1989;9:989-98.
4. Page TG, Southern LL, Ward TL, et al. Effect of
chromium picolinate on growth and serum and carcass traits of
growing-finishing pigs. J Anim Sci 1993;71:656-62.
5. Lefavi R, Anderson R, Keith R, et al. Efficacy
of chromium supplementation in athletes: emphasis on anabolism. Int
J Sport Nutr 1992;2:111-22.
6. McCarty MF. The case for supplemental chromium
and a survey of clinical studies with chromium picolinate. J Appl
Nutr 1991;43:59-66.
7. Kaats GR, Blum K, Fisher JA, Adelman JA. Effects
of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a
randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study. Curr Ther Res
1996;57:747-56.
8. Kaats GR, Blum K, Pullin D, et al. A randomized,
double-masked, placebo-controlled study of the effects of chromium
picolinate supplementation on body composition: a replication and
extension of a previous study. Curr Ther Res 1998;59:379-88.
9. Hallmark MA, Reynolds TH, DeSouza CA, et al.
Effects of chromium and resistive training on muscle strength and body
composition. Med Sci Spt Ex 1996;28:139-44.
10. Sterns DM, Belbruno JJ, Wetterhahn KE. A
prediction of chromium (III) accumulation in humans from chromium
dietary supplements. FASEB J 1995;9:1650–7.
11. Sterns DM, Wise JP, Patierno SR, Wetterhahn KE.
Chromium (III) picolinate produces chromosome damage in Chinese hamster
ovary cells. FASEB J 1995;9:1643–9.
12. Speetjens JK, Collins RA, Vincent JB, Woski SA.
The nutritional supplement chromium (III) tris(picolinate) cleaves DNA.
Chem Res Toxicol 1999;12:483–7.
13. Garland M, Morris JS, Colditz GA, et al.
Toenail trace element levels and breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol
1996;144:653–60.
14. Cerulli J, Grabe DW, Guathier I, et al.
Chromium picolinate toxicity. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:428–31.
15. Shannon M. Alternative medicines toxicology: a
review of selected agents. J Clin Toxicol 1999;37:709–13.
16. Wasser WG, Feldman NS. Chronic renal failure
after ingestion of over-the-counter chromium picolinate. Ann Intern
Med 1997;126:410 [letter].
17. Cerulli J, Grabe DW, Gauthier I, et al.
Chromium picolinate toxicity. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:428–31.
18. Martin WR, Fuller RE. Suspected chromium
picolinate-induced rhabdomyolysis. Pharmacotherapy
1998;18:860–2.
19. Offenbacher EG. Promotion of chromium
absorption by ascorbic acid. Trace Elements Electrolytes
1994;11:178–81.
