CHROMIUM AND BREWER’S YEAST

Physiology and Clinical Effects
Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels. In addition to its well-studied effects in diabetes, preliminary research has found that chromium supplementation also improves glucose tolerance in people with Turner’s syndrome—a disease linked with glucose intolerance.¹

Chromium may also play a role in increasing HDL (the “good” cholesterol),² yet lowering overall cholesterol levels.³

Chromium, in a form called chromium picolinate, has been studied for its potential role in altering body composition. Preliminary research in animals⁴ and humans^{5 6} suggested that chromium picolinate increases fat loss and lean muscle tissue gain. Though some follow-up research in people has not confirmed chromium picolinate to have a significant effect in altering body composition,⁷ double-blind research has reported reduction in body fat⁸ and body weight⁹ in people given 400 mcg of chromium picolinate per day for three months.

Food Sources
The best source of chromium is true brewer’s yeast. Nutritional yeast and torula yeast do not contain significant amounts and are not substitutes. Chromium is also found in grains and cereals, although it is lacking when these foods are refined. Stainless steel scrapings from pots and pans provide much of the chromium in many people’s diets. Some brands of beer contain significant amounts.

Deficiency Risk and Symptoms
Most people eat less than the U.S. National Academy of Science’s recommended range of 50–200 mcg per day. The high incidence of adult-onset diabetes suggests to many doctors that most people should be supplementing small amounts of chromium.

Recommended Dosage
A daily intake of 200 mcg is recommended by many doctors.

Contraindications
In supplemental doses (typically 50–300 mcg per day), chromium has not been linked consistently with human toxicity. One study suggested that chromium in very high concentrations in a test tube could cause chromosomal mutations in ovarian cells of hamsters.^{10 11} This risk, however, has not been demonstrated in humans.¹² There is one report of severe illness (including liver and kidney damage) occurring in an individual who was taking 1,000 mcg of chromium per day.¹³ However, chromium supplementation was not proven to be the cause of these problems.

Two single, unrelated cases of toxicity have been reported. A case of kidney failure appeared after taking 600 mcg per day for six weeks,¹⁴ and a case of anemia, liver dysfunction, and other problems appeared after four to five months of 1,200–24,000 mcg chromium picolinate per day.¹⁵ Whether these problems were caused by chromium picolinate or, if so, whether other forms of chromium might have the same effects at these high amounts remains unclear. No one should take more than 300 mcg per day of chromium without the supervision of a doctor.

Preliminary research has found that vitamin C increases the absorption of chromium.¹⁶

References:

1. Saner G, Yüzbasiyan V, Neyzi O, et al. Alterations of chromium metabolism and effect of chromium supplementation in Turner’s syndrome patients. Am J Clin Nutr 1983;38:574–8.
2. Riales R, Albrink MJ. Effect of chromium chloride supplementation on glucose tolerance and serum lipids including high-density lipoprotein of adult men. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:2670–8.
3. Wang MM, Fox EZ, Stoecker BJ, et al. Serum cholesterol of adults supplemented with brewer’s yeast or chromium chloride. Nutr Res 1989;9:989–98.
4. Page TG, Ward TL, and Southern LL. Effect of chromium picolinate on growth and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs. J Animal Sci 1991;69:356.
5. Lefavi R, Anderson R, Keith R, et al. Efficacy of chromium supplementation in athletes: Emphasis on anabolism. Int J Sport Nutr 1992;2:111–22.
6. McCarty MF. The case for supplemental chromium and a survey of clinical studies with chromium picolinate. J Appl Nutr 1991;43:59–66.
7. Hallmark MA, Reynolds TH, DeSouza CA, et al. Effects of chromium and resistive training on muscle strength and body composition. Med Sci Spt Ex 1996;28:139–44.
8. Kaats GR, Blum K, Fisher JA, Adelman JA. Effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study. Curr Ther Res 1996;57:747–56.
9. Kaats GR, Blum K, Pullin D, Keither SC, Wood R. A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a replication and extension of a previous study. Curr Ther Res 1998;59:379–88.
10. Sterns DM, Belbruno JJ, Wetterhahn KE. A prediction of chromium (III) accumulation in humans from chromium dietary supplements. FASEB J 1995;9:1650–7.
11. Sterns DM, Wise JP, Patierno SR, Wetterhahn KE. Chromium (III) picolinate produces chromosome damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells. FASEB J 1995;9:1643–9.
12. Garland M, Morris JS, Colditz GA, et al. Toenail trace element levels and breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 1996;144:653–60.
13. Cerulli J, Grabe DW, Guathier I, et al. Chromium picolinate toxicity. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:428–31.
14. Wasser WG, Feldman NS. Chronic renal failure after ingestion of over-the-counter chromium picolinate. Ann Intern Med 1997;126:410 [letter].
15. Cerulli J, Grabe DW, Gauthier I, et al. Chromium picolinate toxicity. Ann Pharmacother 1998;32:428–31.
16. Offenbacher EG. Promotion of chromium absorption by ascorbic acid. Trace Elements Electrolytes 1994;11:178–81.

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