Chromium is an essential trace mineral that facilitates the action of insulin. As such, chromium is widely marketed as a supplement that reduces body fat, increases lean muscle, and improves insulin sensitivity.
The most prevalent supplement form of chromium is chromium picolinate. As it turns out, this form of chromium appears to be the most toxcic. A large number of studies show that chromium picolinate generates hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions (two free radicals) leading to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial damage, and DNA damage.
Genotoxic effects of chromium picolinate stem from its interaction with antioxidants in the cells, a process that generates a "reduced" form of chromium capable of causing mutations in DNA.
Critics of these studies point out that the amount of chromium picolinate tested is too high to be relevant for humans who supplement with chromium. However, researchers argue that after several years of swallowing a daily recommended dose of 600 ug of chromium picolinate, chromium would accumulate in the body to the level that caused damage observed in their studies.
Speaking for myself, I do not fancy the idea of being a guinea pig. To me the risks of chromium picolinate supplementation by far exceed the benefits. Problem is, chromium picolinate is found in many multivitamin formulas, protein powders, fat-loss formulas etc. I find this very frustrating because it limits my choice of supplements. Why is it that supp companies put doubtfull ingredients in their products :think: Is it lack of research ? Or is it just me being overly paranoid ?! :run:
Opinions anyone ?
Chromium(III) tris(picolinate) is mutagenic at the...[Mutat Res. 2002] - PubMed Result
A prediction of chromium(III) accumulation in huma...[FASEB J. 1995] - PubMed Result
Chromium(III) picolinate produces chromosome damag...[FASEB J. 1995] - PubMed Result
ScienceDirect - Polyhedron : The nutritional supplement chromium picolinate generates oxidative DNA damage and peroxidized lipids in vivo
The most prevalent supplement form of chromium is chromium picolinate. As it turns out, this form of chromium appears to be the most toxcic. A large number of studies show that chromium picolinate generates hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anions (two free radicals) leading to lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial damage, and DNA damage.
Genotoxic effects of chromium picolinate stem from its interaction with antioxidants in the cells, a process that generates a "reduced" form of chromium capable of causing mutations in DNA.
Critics of these studies point out that the amount of chromium picolinate tested is too high to be relevant for humans who supplement with chromium. However, researchers argue that after several years of swallowing a daily recommended dose of 600 ug of chromium picolinate, chromium would accumulate in the body to the level that caused damage observed in their studies.
Speaking for myself, I do not fancy the idea of being a guinea pig. To me the risks of chromium picolinate supplementation by far exceed the benefits. Problem is, chromium picolinate is found in many multivitamin formulas, protein powders, fat-loss formulas etc. I find this very frustrating because it limits my choice of supplements. Why is it that supp companies put doubtfull ingredients in their products :think: Is it lack of research ? Or is it just me being overly paranoid ?! :run:
Opinions anyone ?
Chromium(III) tris(picolinate) is mutagenic at the...[Mutat Res. 2002] - PubMed Result
A prediction of chromium(III) accumulation in huma...[FASEB J. 1995] - PubMed Result
Chromium(III) picolinate produces chromosome damag...[FASEB J. 1995] - PubMed Result
ScienceDirect - Polyhedron : The nutritional supplement chromium picolinate generates oxidative DNA damage and peroxidized lipids in vivo