Safety Profile
Overall safety rating: Generally Safe
Chromium Side Effects & Safety
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Full disclaimer
Potential Side Effects
- Generally very well-tolerated at recommended doses
- Headache and insomnia (uncommon)
- Mood changes (rare)
- Theoretical concern about DNA damage at very high doses — not confirmed in human studies at supplement levels
- Rare case reports of kidney damage with very high doses (>1,200mcg/day)
Drug & Supplement Interactions
- Insulin and oral diabetes medications — may enhance hypoglycemic effects; monitor blood sugar closely
- Levothyroxine — chromium picolinate may reduce thyroid medication absorption; separate by 3-4 hours
- NSAIDs — may increase chromium absorption
- Antacids and H2 blockers — may reduce chromium absorption
Maximum Dose
Do not exceed: No established UL; doses up to 1,000mcg/day appear safe in studies up to 6 months
References
- Balk EM, Tatsioni A, Lichtenstein AH, Lau J, Pittas AG (2007). Effect of chromium supplementation on glucose metabolism and lipids: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Diabetes Care. DOI PubMed
- Anderson RA, Cheng N, Bryden NA, et al. (1997). Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. DOI PubMed
- Tian H, Guo X, Wang X, et al. (2013). Chromium picolinate supplementation for overweight or obese adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. DOI PubMed