AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Question Dear expert,
I am a healthy 25 y/o active female.A couple of years ago I was taking a greentea fatburner with lots of chromium pic.in it. I did not exceed the dosage,but I calculated that there was about 1000 mcg. I took this for almost 2 years and stopped a year ago. I am concerned because I had a urinalysis that showed 2+ protein loss. I have read that chromium picolinate is nephrotoxic. do u think that my kidneys are damaged by chromium?
Answer Dear Mary
Some protein in urine is very common and although yours is higher than what I would consider normal it may be that there is some kidney damage but it would not be severe. This amount of chromium in tablets is excessive, in Australia even the high strength contain only 50mcg of the picolinate. The level you took has been reported to cause kidney damage (I cannot understand how this preparation is legal). I would not be overly concerned though but would advise you seek other renal function tests and maybe have the chromium levels measured in the body - the latter is probaby unnecessary as it is two years since the high exposure.
