Chromium Cautions
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General warnings and precautions
In general, chromium supplements at levels within therapeutic ranges (under the tolerable upper limit) are safe for most people to take, but certain people should seek medical advice before trying chromium supplements:
- People with diabetes
People with diabetes should be careful in their intake of chromium supplements, unless they have been advised it is safe for them to do so by a doctor. Diabetics should never abandon their insulin medication in favour of chromium supplements as it could cause severe and adverse health effects. Chromium supplementation in diabetics needs to be monitored by a medical professional, to ensure correct levels are taken for the person's individual circumstances. - People with insulin resistance
People with insulin resistance (or glucose intolerance) should always seek medical advice prior to taking chromium supplements to ensure that they are taking an adequate amount for their individual circumstances. - People with kidney or liver disease
People with any type of kidney or liver disease should be very careful with chromium supplements as very high levels of chromium can result in impairment to both the kidneys and liver - always consult a doctor for advice before taking any chromium supplements.
In general, chromium supplements at levels within therapeutic ranges (under the tolerable upper limit) are safe for most people to take, but certain people should seek medical advice before trying chromium supplements
Toxic Levels of Molybdenum
Chromium +3 (Cr +3) supplements (the natural form) are less toxic and are the preferred supplemental form as they do not cause such acute and toxic effects even in very high doses than the man-made form.
Chromium +6 (Cr +6) supplements (the man-made form) are very toxic and can cause severe symptoms, even death if high enough oral intakes are accidentally taken.
Overdosage and Toxicity Symptoms
Symptoms of chromium 3+ toxicity include:
- Diarrhoea
- Renal and hepatic damage
- Vomiting
Symptoms of chromium 6+ toxicity include:
- Carcinogenic effects
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Impaired central nervous system activity
- Impaired liver
- Kidney damage
- Stomach ulcers
People who experience any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their chromium supplements and seek the advice of their doctor. Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of chromium is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.