Is chromium picolinate safe to take? Is it a cause of or contributor to cancer?
R.M., Antigo, Wisc. ANSWER: Chromium is an essential nutrient required primarily for the proper metabolism of sugar (blood glucose), but it’s also involved with fat and protein metabolism. Chromium picolinate is a popular supplement form that combines the mineral with picolinic acid. The recommended level of intake is small, ranging between 50 and 200 micrograms per day. Chromium is found in meats, especially organ meats, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ and some fats and vegetable oils. It can also be found in unrefined grains, but the amount depends on the level in the soil. There was a finding that chromium picolinate had an ability to damage genetic material (DNA) in a test-tube situation. The research was considered to be preliminary and somewhat theoretical, and it does not really apply to chromium in foods or chromium picolinate taken as a supplement. Chromium has a relatively good safety record in animal studies. A review of dietary supplements for weight reduction published in the A
