2 types of chromium

[Cali]

I read recently that the much touted chromium picolinate has been linked to chromosome damage in lab animals and that chromium nicotinate is preferable. Anyone know any more about this??

[Karen]

There are a few links in this post. It may help you out.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31654&highlight=chromium+picolinate

Karen

[Cali]

These links were interesting in that the second one confirmed that picolinate had adverse effects - it accumulates in cells and caused mutations in hamsters and says there is enough chromium in water and other food products (not only brewer's yeast) so no need to take it as a supplement.
Nothing is mentioned about the nicotinate, does this work in the same way as picolinate? What is the difference?

[Karen]

If no one can give you a hand, try doing a Google search for it. I found the other info by doing an internal search with the search feature, upper right.

Karen

[doreen T]

Check out the Chromium Information Bureau. There's an extensive list of research articles, including those which debunk the link to cancer. From their main index page (http://www.chromiuminfo.org/index2.html) you can find research articles and news about chromium and safety.

Hope you find the information you seek.

Doreen

[Cali]

Thank you Doreen. The link was excellent and answered all my questions. It seems that there is no risk involved unless one is a Chinese hamster being given 3000 times the normal blood sugar requirement of chromium picolinate.

[Demi]

I had read on another link about the dangers of chromium, so emailed the Atkins Center. This was their reply:

Chromium is safe at doses of 200 micrograms 3 times daily with meals. The studies that claim chromium to be dangerous were done at much higher doses and in isolated laboratory conditions which are not the way the human body functions in assimilating nutrients.