Chromium Picolinate - All about Chromium Picolinate

Chromium Picolinate is a drug and it comes under alternative therapy and not recommended by doctors. But some people still use it as a nutritional supplement.

Chromium Picolinate Uses

In the market Chromium Picolinate is usually sold as a nutritional supplement to treat type 2 diabetes or promote weight loss.

Chromium Picolinate for Diabetes

Small quantity of chromium is essential in human body and is needed for glucose utilization - i.e., digesting carbohydrates/sugar in the body. Hence Chromium Picolinate is used to improve chromium in the body and hence improve diabetes. Though medically it has never been proven and hence its use is not recommended officially by doctors.

Chromium Picolinate for Weight Loss

Chromium Picolinate is heavily used as a supplement for weight loss.

It origin lies in a 1989 study that suggested that Chromium Picolinate may help in weight loss and increase muscle mass. These claims have not been verified in other studies though.

Irrespective of that, Chromium Picolinate is part of multi-million dollar industry and it is second most heavily used supplement behind Ca supplement.

Chromium Picolinate Side effects

Generally speaking, Chromium Picolinate is not toxic to humans and for most adults can be taken orally up to doses of 1000 mg per day.

Though in past, there has been questions about Chromium Picolinate impact on DNA and chromosomal damage. This originated based on a study on studies on fruit flies. But later study on humans did not find significant impact on DNA.

Given that there is no official confirmation about its potential benefits though, it is not typically recommended to take Chromium Picolinate and more specifically it is not advised by FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Additionally, don't use this supplement if you have Kidney or Liver disease, Diabetes, allergy to leather, and thyroid disorder.

Chromium Picolinate - not recommended during pregnancy

There is no conclusive studies available if Chromium Picolinate is safe during pregnancy or not. Hence it is not recommended during pregnancy.