Risks.Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take chromium supplements.These interactions may cause the chromium to be poorly absorbed or amplify the effect of the other medicine. Chromium may also interact with drugs like antacids, acid reflux drugs, corticosteroids, beta-blockers, insulin, thyroid medicine and NSAID painkillers. Since chromium may affect blood sugar levels, it is crucial that anyone taking diabetes medications, like insulin, only use chromium under the care of a medical doctor. If you have kidney or liver disease, do not take chromium without talking to your doctor first. Chromium may increase the risk of kidney or liver damage. There have been some reports of chromium causing occasional irregular heartbeats, sleep disturbances, headaches, mood changes, and allergic reactions. Fruits, including apples and bananas grape juice.Vegetables such as broccoli, potatoes, and green beans.Foods that are good sources of chromium include: Most people get enough chromium from food. Can you get chromium naturally from foods? For example, for diabetes, people have taken 200-1,000 micrograms daily, split two to three times a day. Excessive doses of chromium may actually worsen insulin sensitivity. Some researchers suggest that 1,000 micrograms a day should be considered the upper limit. However, no one knows exactly how much more is safe. Instead, experts came up with a minimum amount of chromium that people should get. So there is no recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for chromium. How much chromium should you take?Įxperts don't know how much chromium people need. Some chromium studies have shown these benefits, but others have not. Some people use chromium supplements to build muscle or trigger weight loss. However, the study results have been contradictory or unclear. Other studies have also found that chromium may help with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is linked to insulin resistance.Ĭhromium supplements have also been studied for their effects on cholesterol, heart disease risk, psychological disorders, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions. It may be that chromium works better if someone is chromium deficient, which is usually only seen if a person has poor overall nutrition. There’s good evidence that chromium can lower glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity, although not all studies have shown a benefit. Some studies have shown that chromium supplements may be helpful for people with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance (prediabetes). However, it also had risks and its use is somewhat controversial. Perhaps most importantly, chromium forms a compound in the body that seems to enhance the effects of insulin and lower glucose levels. Chromium - specifically, trivalent chromium - is an essential trace element that's used by some people as a supplement.

When to take chromium picolinate