Is there a danger associated with chromium picolinate supplementation?

More than 35 published clinical trials and the reviews of The National Toxicology Program, The Institute of Medicine , The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and a former USDA researcher found no toxicity from chromium picolinate, and the CRN recently reaffirmed its safety as a human supplement. More than a decade of safe use of chromium picolinate in U.S. human and animal nutrition markets, with more than 10 million consumers, supports their findings.

Unfortunately, however, for the conscientious consumer, several published articles have recently created some confusion. By overlooking key differences between proven safe oral chromium picolinate supplementation in humans and the experimental methods of very intensive laboratory exposure to chromium, and by drawing invalid comparisons between chromium picolinate and other clearly toxic environmental forms of chromium, they have clouded the issue of safety. It has been unjustly suggested that there should be concerns of possible risks or dangers with oral chromium picolinate supplementation based on studies in which very high doses of chromium were given to insects or microorganisms, or intravenously to rats. A particularly far-reaching claim without solid scientific basis even suggested possible concerns that chromium picolinate might pose a risk of DNA damage that could eventually lead to cancer in humans.

To remove the clouds and provide some clarity we offer the statements of the experts reviewing the full body of chromium picolinate evidence:

Chromium Picolinate Safety: Expert Conclusions

The National Toxicology Program, a government agency, conducted an AMES test for chromosomal aberrations (DNA damage) and a genotoxicity test for mutagenesis with chromium picolinate and found no toxicity. These tests were performed under EPA standards for evaluating toxicity of minerals. These same tests have been replicated, further confirming the safety of chromium picolinate.

The Institute of Medicine reviewed the scientific literature on chromium picolinate and did not find any substantive concerns about safety (potential dangers) of chromium picolinate at any of the levels used in relevant studies. This review included human studies of supplemental chromium (as chromium picolinate) up to 1000 micrograms per day.