Chromium Picolinate How Safe is Chromium? Chromium picolinate safety has been evaluated in 35 clinical trials utilizing over 2,000 participants. Research has shown it safe at levels more than 500 times the typical daily dose for an average adult; safe, safety, chromium safety, chromium picolinate safety, is chromium picolinate safe, safety studies, safety data, report, expert; safe, safety, chromium safety, chromium picolinate safety, is chromium picolinate safe, safety studies, safety data, report, expert
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In terms of safety, chromium picolinate safety has been evaluated in 35 clinical trials utilizing over 2,000 participants. Research has shown that chromium picolinate is safe at levels as high as 500 mg, or 500,000 mcg, in animals. These levels are more than 500 times the typical daily dose for an average adult and are not recommended. Other than isolated, unsubstantiated cases that were likely due to other factors, like prescription drug use or pre-existing illness, there have been no studies that substantiate unwanted effects in the more than a decade that chromium picolinate has been on the market and with the approximately 10 billion doses of chromium picolinate that have been consumed. In fact, chromium picolinate has been affirmed as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) at up to 600 mcg of chromium daily.In August 2005, the U.S. Funded Drug Administration (FDA) allowed a qualified health claim for chromium picolinate in reference to insulin resistance which confirmed that chromium pic. Is a safe nutritional supplement.  In this same year, studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program also confirmed safety.

In 2001 and 2002, ENVIRON, a respected science and regulatory consultant company reviewed the safety data of Chromax chromium picolinate. ENVIRON got together an independent panel of experts that affirmed Chromax chromium picolinate as “Generally Recognized As Safe” (or GRAS) for use in foods.

Part of ENVIRON’s chromium picolinate approval process was a careful review of recommended safety studies, which included the Ames Test, a Chromosomal Aberration Study, and a Six-Month Toxicity Study (conducted by the US Department of Agriculture, [USDA]). These US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-recommended safety studies on Chromax chromium picolinate showed no negative effects. The results validated the safety of Chromax chromium picolinate, even at several thousand times the upper limit of estimated adequate daily dietary intake for humans.

Most Recent Expert Safety Review

A 1999 study also backed the safety of Chromax chromium picolinate, and in a 2002 article by the Washington, D.C.-based Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), John Hathcock, Ph.D., wrote that, “Numerous investigations have established that chromium is one of the least toxic trace elements, and in vivo mammalian studies support the safety of chromium picolinate.”

He added: “Studies involving isolated DNA, cell cultures or unrealistic concentrations of the supplement must be considered speculative and inapplicable to living organisms.” In 1997, Richard Anderson, Ph.D., published a landmark safety study using chromium picolinate; in fact, there are safety studies and reviews dating back to at least 1989 that support the safety of chromium picolinate. For a look at chromium picolinate’s impressive safety record, click here

Here are two key, representative studies in this area using chromium picolinate.

2002.

  • John Hathcock, PhD, and Cathy Fomous, PhD. “Safety issues for chromium picolinate, chromium and picolinic acid,” Council for Responsible Nutrition, Washington, D.C., January 2002.

According to the authors, “the safety of chromium picolinate is apparent when the vast array of peer-reviewed literature on chromium picolinate is considered, including genotoxic assays, long-term studies in rats, and clinical studies with human subjects.” The authors point to a report from The National Academies Food and Nutrition Board Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) committee that concluded, “No adverse effects have been convincingly associated with excess intakes of chromium from food or supplements…” Numerous investigations have established [the] safety of chromium picolinate, say the authors, who add that “research that falls outside federal guidelines must be examined with the proper perspective.” Studies involving isolated DNA, cell cultures, or unrealistic concentrations of the supplement must be considered speculative and inapplicable to living organisms, especially when substantial data from human and experimental animals indicate an extremely low order of toxicity, they conclude.

1997.

  • Richard A. Anderson, PhD, Noella A. Bryden, BS, and Marilyn M. Polansky, MS. “Lack of toxicity of chromium chloride and chromium picolinate in rats,” Journal of the American College of Nutrition 16(3):273-279, 1997.

In a rat model, the authors examined the safety of chromium chloride and what they referred to as “a more bioavailable form of trivalent chromium, chromium picolinate.” The paper demonstrated the safety (lack of toxicity) of trivalent chromium at levels that are several thousand times above the upper limit of the estimated safe and adequate daily intake for humans.


































































How Safe is Chromium? Chromium picolinate safety has been evaluated in 35 clinical trials utilizing over 2,000 participants. Research has shown it safe at levels more than 500 times the typical daily dose for an average adult; safe, safety, chromium safety, chromium picolinate safety, is chromium picolinate safe, safety studies, safety data, report, expert; safe, safety, chromium safety, chromium picolinate safety, is chromium picolinate safe, safety studies, safety data, report, expert









A Decade of Chromium Picolinate Science

Chromium picolinate is backed by over 10 years of research carried out by leading scientists at respected hospitals, universities and research centers. Overall, chromium picolinate has been tested in over 35 clinical studies involving over 2,000 participants.
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