Chromium(III) picolinate

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Chromium(III) picolinate

Chemical name	Chromium(III) picolinate
Chemical formula	Cr(C₆H₄NO₂)₃
Molecular mass	418.33 g/mol
CAS number	[14639-25-9]
Density	? g/cm³
Melting point	? °C
Disclaimer and references

Chromium picolinate is a bright red solid that is the chromium (III) salt of picolinic acid. It is a nutritional supplement used to prevent or treat chromium deficiency. Small quantities of chromium are needed for normal health, but deficiency is rare in developed nations.

[edit] Health claims and debates

Numerous commercial organizations promote chromium picolinate as an aid to body development for athletes and as a means of losing weight. But a number of studies have failed to demonstrate an effect of chromium picolinate on either muscle growth or fat loss^[1].

Claims have been made that the picolinate form of chromium supplementation is of benefit in reducing insulin resistance, particularly in diabetics. A meta-analysis of chromium supplementation studies showed no association between chromium and glucose or insulin concentrations for non-diabetics, and inconclusive results for diabetics^[2]. But this study has been challenged on grounds that it excluded significant results^[3].

A number of studies have indicated that chromium picolinate is more likely to cause DNA damage and mutation than other forms of trivalent chromium^[4], but these results are also a subject of debate.

[edit] References

^ Vincent J.B. (2003). "The potential value and toxicity of chromium picolinate as a nutritional supplement, weight loss agent and muscle development agent". SPORTS MEDICINE 33 (3): 213-230. PMID 12656641.
^ Althuis MD, Jordan NE, Ludington EA, Wittes JT (2002). "Glucose and insulin responses to dietary chromium supplements: a meta-analysis". AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION 76 (1): 148-155. PMID 12081828.
^ Kalman DS (2003). "Chromium picolinate and type 2 diabetes". AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION 78 (1): 192. PMID 12816793.
^ Chaudhary S, Pinkston J, Rabile MM, Van Horn JD (2005). "Unusual reactivity in a commercial chromium supplement compared to baseline DNA cleavage with synthetic chromium complexes". JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY 99 (3): 787-794. PMID 15708800.