Chromium is an essential trace mineral. It is bluish-white in appearance and is found naturally only in combination with other elements. Since it is not manufactured by the body, it must be obtained from one's diet.
Chromium is important in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. It stimulates fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis and is an activator of several enzymes.
Preliminary research has found that chromium improves glucose tolerance in people with Turner's syndrome, a disease associated with an inability to metabolize glucose. Other studies have shown that chromium may increase blood levels of HDL cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol). Research using a form of chromium called chromium picolinate suggests that it may increase fat loss and promote the gain of lean muscle tissue.
There is currently no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for chromium. However, the National Academy of Sciences has deemed the following amounts to be safe and adequate in a normal diet:
The best source of chromium is true brewer's yeast; however, most people cannot tolerate brewer's yeast because it causes abdominal bloating and nausea. Other good sources of chromium include beef, liver, eggs, chicken, oysters, wheat germ, green peppers, apples, bananas, spinach, butter, black pepper and molasses. Some brands of beer also contain significant amounts.
Chromium deficiency has been linked to impaired glucose tolerance. It is often seen in older people with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and in infants with protein-calorie malnutrition. Chromium supplementation helps manage these conditions, but it not considered a substitute for other diabetes treatments.
Chromium has not been linked consistently with human toxicity. One study suggested that very high concentrations of chromium could cause chromosomal mutations in hamster cells, but that effect has yet to be demonstrated in humans.
Two single, unrelated cases of toxicity have been reported. A case of kidney failure appeared after taking 600 micrograms per day for six weeks. A case of anemia, liver dysfunction, and other problems appeared after approximately five months of taking between 1,200-24,000 micrograms of chromium picolinate per day. Whether these problems were caused by chromium picolinate, or whether other forms of chromium might have the same effects at these high amounts, remains unclear. Nevertheless, it is recommended that no one take more than 300 micrograms of chromium per day without consulting a nutritionally-oriented doctor.
References
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