Is Supplementation With Chromium Picolinate Safe?

I have been taking Chromium Picolinate for some time now. It was one of the first supplements I started taking when I found out I had Type 2 diabetes. This was after some research and talking to my doctor.

What is it? It is a combination of an essential mineral chromium and a chemical called picolinate. Picolinate  is effective in DE-energizing the chromium so it can be absorbed by your body.

What does chromium do ?:

• Increases muscle mass
• Decreases body fat
• Improves insulin activity in diabetics
• Decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) while at the same time increasing good cholesterol (HDL)

Chromium helps your body utilize insulin more effectively. Glucose that is not used for energy ends up being stored as fat. Most people do not get enough chromium in their diet. It is found in brewers yeast, and organ meats such as kidney and liver.

Once you start taking chromium, YOU NEED TO TEST YOUR GLUCOSE LEVELS MORE FREQUENTLY AND ALSO LET your doctor know you have started chromium supplementation and he or she can work with you more closely.

What dose to start?  400 mcg is the normal recommended daily starting dose.

I have been taking  (1) 500mcg with breakfast and (1) 500 mcg with dinner for quite a while with no known side effects. Again, I did NOT start taking it without discussing it first with my diabetes doctor.

Link to Chromium Supplementation

EXCERPTS:


Are Chromium Picolinate and Vanadyl Sulfate the same things?
No. Vanadyl Sulfate works by trying to do the same thing that insulin does. The idea is that if insulin is so important why not just take a compound that can do the same things as insulin. While there is some research to show that Vanadyl Sulfate does a good job of mimicking insulin, it has a dangerous side effect. If you feed your body something that does the job of insulin - over time the body might stop producing its own supply of insulin.
Chromium Picolinate just makes the insulin in your body work better. 

Are Chromium Picolinate and Vanadyl Sulfate the same things?
No. Vanadyl Sulfate works by trying to do the same thing that insulin does. The idea is that if insulin is so important why not just take a compound that can do the same things as insulin. While there is some research to show that Vanadyl Sulfate does a good job of mimicking insulin, it has a dangerous side effect. If you feed your body something that does the job of insulin - over time the body might stop producing its own supply of insulin.
Chromium Picolinate just makes the insulin in your body work better. 

Another View Point:
 LINK to another viewpoint on Chromium

Bottom Line

Given that chromium picolinate supplements in high doses appear to provide very little if any health benefit while possibly carrying some risk, it is my opinion that high doses of chromium picolinate should be avoided, at least until there is more compelling evidence of benefit, or more evidence about side effects. If you are currently taking chromium picolinate supplements and are experiencing any new symptoms, including the following, call your doctor:

• Unexplained bruising
• Nosebleed
• Skin rash or blisters
• Urinate less than normal
• Feel very tired
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sleep disturbances
• Headache
• Dizziness 

Dan