supplementation including initial insomnia, increased and vivid dreams, tremor, and
mild psychomotor activation.
Lake and Spiegel refer to chromium as “one of the least toxic nutrients,” “well-
tolerated” so long as bedtime dosing is avoided if insomnia becomes a problem. Vivid
dreaming is reported to remit after 2 weeks.
Given the risk of cycling, caution should be used in people who have (or may develop)
bipolar disorder.
Preclinical studies have shown that the addition of chromium picolinate to the diet of
rats is not associated with toxicity even at doses greater than a thousand times the
usual human intake.^3
The Institute of Medicine reviewed the safety information on chromium in 2001 and
concluded that up to 160 mcg per day of trivalent chromium picolinate (or 200 mcg per
day of trivalent chromium) is safe when used consistent with published clinical data
for up to three to six months.^4
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that chromium is “probably
safe” in children, pregnancy and lactation.
- PREPARATION: TRIVALENT CHROMIUM PICOLINATE: Supplements are available as
chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate, polynicotinate, chromium picolinate, high
chromium brewer’s yeast, and chromium citrate. Trivalent chromium picolinate seems to
be the best tolerated form and is easily absorbed by humans. Over the past three decades,
there have been no reports of chromium toxicity in any chromium supplementation studies
that used trivalent chromium picolinate.
- DOSAGE:
The Natural Standard reports that studies have used 200 - 1000 mcg per day, but asserts
that the recommended chromium picolinate doses are lower, at 200 - 250 mcg per day.
Lake and Spiegel cite therapeutic study dosages of from 200-600 mcg per day in
divided doses and a recommended daily intake of 50 - 200 mcg.
