Chromium is a trace mineral, one that the body needs only in small amounts. Chromium picolinate, a form of chromium, may be easier for the body to absorb, although this has not been proven. While the small amount of chromium picolinate normally found in multivitamins rarely causes any side effects, large amounts of chromium picolinate such as are found in supplements can have serious side effects. Talk with your medical practitioner before deciding to take chromium picolinate supplements.
Stomach Upset
In high doses, chromium picolinate can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Report more serious signs of stomach irritation such as blood in the stool to your medical practitioner immediately. Upper right quadrant pain can indicate liver problems, which require immediate investigation.
Kidney and Liver Problems
Rare cases of kidney failure and liver damage have occurred in people taking high doses of chromium picolinate. A 1998 article in the "Annals of Pharmacology" reported by the Albany College of Pharmacy discussed the case of a woman who ingested between 1,200 and 2,400 mcg of chromium picolinate daily to lose weight for four to five months. After stopping the supplement, renal function started to return within 12 day and liver function improved within six days. The normal dose for women is 25 mcg daily between ages 19 and 50, and 20 mcg over age 51. Men need 35 mcg between ages 19 and 50 and 30 mcg over age 51.
Signs of kidney damage include decreased urination or impaired thinking, which can also occur with liver dysfunction. Other signs of liver problems include jaundice, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes or fatigue. People at risk for developing kidney or liver problems or who already have such issues should not take chromium picolinate supplements. Dietary chromium does not cause problems.
Heart Irregularities
In some reported cases, chromium picolinate has caused a faster than normal or irregular heartbeat. These irregularities normally occur only in people taking more than 250 mcg of chromium, according to The Vitamin Update website.
Cell Damage
In laboratory studies, chromium picolinate damaged chromosomes in cells. This raised concern that chromium picolinate might increase the risk of developing cancer. This has not been noted in living organisms, however. A study conducted by the New York University School of Medicine and reported in the 1998 "European Journal of Epidemiology" found no increase in oxidative DNA cell damage in obese women who took 400 mcg of chromium picolinate for eight weeks.
References
- "Annals of Pharmacology:" Chromium Picolinate Toxicology; Jennifer Cerulli et al.; April 1998
- eMedTV: Chromium Picolinate
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Chromium
- The Vitamin Update: Chromium
- "European Journal of Epidemiology: Effect of Supplementation with Chromium Picolinate on Antibody Titers to 5-hydroxymethyl Uracil; Ikuko Kato et al; September 1998
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