Chromium Picolinate Toxic to Fruit Flies 30126

Chromium Picolinate Toxic to Fruit Flies

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.--Researchers reported that in astudy using fruit flies, chromium picolinate appeared to be toxic. However,chromium picolinate proponents were quick to point out the problems with thisstudy, which appeared in the March 20 online edition of the Proceedings ofthe National Academy of Sciences (www.pnas.org)

John Vincent, a bioinorganic chemist at the University ofAlabama and a study author, told the media outlet United Press Internationalthat he and colleagues found the supplement was linked to major health concerns.Using fruit flies in order to document any link chromium picolinate might haveon genetic damage, the researchers raised four generations of fruit flies (whichhave a lifespan of 30 to 40 days) on food laced with chromium picolinate. Therewas a 20-percent drop in life expectancy at the pupal stage. The surviving flieshad delayed development, hatching from pupal cases 24 hours later than what wasexpected. In terms of sexual health, fewer males were born to chromiumpicolinate supplemented females, and there were higher numbers of sterilefemales. Supplementation was reportedly equivalent to typical humanconsumption--240 mcg/kg of food. The authors noted, however, that there was noevidence this data could be translated at a mammal--or human--level.

The Washington-based Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)stood up for the safety of chromium picolinate. "The study ... provides nomeaningful conclusions that change the weight of the strong scientific evidencefor safety in humans," said John Hathcock, Ph.D., vice president ofscientific and international affairs. CRN added that when the Institute ofMedicine, which is under the National Academy of Sciences, conducted itschromium picolinate review, the agency found that even up to 1,000 mcg/d wasnon-toxic.

According to James Gormley, director of trade communications forPurchase, N.Y.-based Nutrition 21, the company's own Chromax has receivedGRAS (generally recognized as safe) affirmation through an extensive safetyreview from ENVIRON. Furthermore, the chromium picolinate used in this study isnot commercially sold in dietary supplements. "What was used in that studywas a lab-synthesized version of chromium picolinate that will never see thelight of day outside of the lab and is not commercially available," Gormleytold INSIDER.

"The National Academy of Sciences [by publishing thispaper] is sensationalizing the results of an isolated fruit fly study that hasno relevance to human, or mammal, metabolism," he said, adding that thedosage of chromium picolinate used in the study was not an amount typicallygiven to humans.

Nutrition 21 also issued a press release in opposition toVincent's findings, saying his conclusions "ignore a large body ofpre-existing evidence that supports the safety of Chromax chromium picolinate."Among the evidence in support of the mineral's safety are a National ToxicologyProgram AMES test, two published safety studies conducted by Nutrition 21, aU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) toxicity study and more than a decade ofsafe use in animals and humans.

For more information, visit www.nutrition21.comor Booth #1538-1540 at SupplySide East.