Is chromium picolinate a safe supplement for athletes?
A. Chromium is an essential trace element. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of chromium is 50-200 micrograms/day and may be obtained from foods such as wholewheat cereals, cheese, nuts, mushrooms and whole grains. The picolinate salt is available as a food supplement and is actively promoted to increase lean muscle mass, promote weight loss. It is also thought to be involved in uptake of amino acids by muscle and in the formation of glycogen. There is no conclusive evidence to support that chromium supplementation above the RDA is of any advantage to either general health or athletic performance. Chromium picolinate is widely available through health shops, mail order magazines and the internet. It is actively marketed as an ergogenic aid that provides a safe alternative to natural anabolic steroids. The supplement is particularly popular in weight lifting and body building and most likely taken at doses far in excess of the RDA. Chronic ingestion of high doses of chromium picolin
