Chromium Information Bureau, Inc. Reports That Chromium Supplements are Safe.EVANSVILLE, Ind.--(BW HealthWire)--April 29, 1999-- Contrary to the impression that may have been produced by recent news reports, there is absolutely no clinical evidence that chromium chromium (krō`mēəm) [Gr.,=color], metallic chemical element; symbol Cr; at. no. 24; at. wt. 51.996; m.p. about 1,857°C;; b.p. 2,672°C;; sp. gr. about 7.2 at 20°C;; valence +2, +3, +6. picolinate is harmful to humans, said Stanley G. Miguel, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Chromium Information Bureau, Inc., a not-for-profit educational group. Indeed, human clinical research studies have shown that supplemental chromium picolinate can benefit many individuals by helping to control insulin and blood glucose levels blood glucose level, n level of glu-cose in the bloodstream, normally about 70 to 115 mg/dL after fasting overnight. Higher levels may indicate diseases such as diabetes mellitus. . "The misinterpretation of the data in these studies by some media outlets was clearly irresponsible and undoubtedly raised fears among the public that are entirely groundless. There is no data anywhere to suggest a link between any form of nutritional chromium and cancer," said Dr. Miguel. At a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a learned society (professional association) based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has over 160,000 members at all degree-levels and in , researchers at the University of Alabama The University of Alabama (also known as Alabama, UA or colloquially as 'Bama) is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1831, UA is the flagship campus of the University of Alabama System. at Tuscaloosa released the results of a test tube study in which high concentrations of both chromium picolinate and Vitamin C vitamin C or ascorbic acid Water-soluble organic compound important in animal metabolism. Most animals produce it in their bodies, but humans, other primates, and guinea pigs need it in the diet to prevent scurvy. were associated with changes in the structure of bacterial DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. fragments. This is a long way from suggesting any risk to humans, emphasized Dr. Miguel. "Studies in test tubes using isolated DNA fragments from bacteria are interesting in that they provide a foundation for scientific hypotheses and point the way for future research projects. But they do not indicate any human health risk," he stressed. Importantly, no form of dietary chromium has ever been shown to cause DNA changes in laboratory animals or in humans. Rather, there is ample data from clinical studies to indicate that chromium picolinate is among the very safest of nutrition supplements, he said. "The CIB CIB abbr. Latin cibus (food) has examined in detail both the Alabama research report and an earlier report from Dartmouth University
Dartmouth University is a defunct institution in New Hampshire, the result of a thwarted attempt by the state legislature to make Dartmouth College, a private college, into a public university. . We can determine no basis for warnings against the safety of chromium picolinate or any other forms of dietary chromium based on either of these studies," Dr. Miguel reported. The Alabama study evaluated only one form of chromium -- chromium picolinate. Other forms of chromium or were not tested, so the observed effects may not be specific to chromium picolinate. Moreover, both studies used extraordinarily high levels of chromium picolinate to produce the effects on DNA, well beyond levels seen in cells in living tissues. For more information, visit the CIB web site at www.chromiuminfo.org. |
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