Expert: Tanya Zilberter, PhD - 5/19/2005

Question
Hi, Doc;

Please allow me to preface my question. I know the question I'm about to ask is out of the discription on your expertise, but because you are a doctor, I trust your opinion a "bit" more than the other non-doctors on this site.

My question is on the supplement Chromium Picolinate. Is it safe? I have only use it once, and liked the edge it took off my hunger. I don't go long between meals, but at times I am more hungier than other times, and want to avoid over eating, and this supplement seems to do a good job. I have read that Chromium Picolinate can cause cancer. I really need to know before I take another dose that it is safe or that there is a safer way to take Chromium, maybe cycling it in a on/off style is the key?

Thanks

Answer
I never crossed any information regarding dangers of Chromium. However,

There was a double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol to study effects of chromium picolinate on body composition. Participants were healthy, active-duty Navy personnel who exceeded the Navy's percent body fat standards of 22% fat for men, 30% for women. Chromium group failed to show a significantly greater reduction in either percent body fat or body weight, or a greater increase in lean body mass, than did the placebo group.

On the other hand, Chromium was shown to be a part of the so-called glucose tolerance factor and could work in improving insulin sensitivity.


Hope this helps,

Tanya Zilberter, PhD