Can a Person with Kidney Disease Take Chromium

Can a Person with Kidney Disease Take Chromium?

QUESTION:

Hello,

I have many of the symptoms of atypical depression and am interested in taking chromium picolinate but I read somewhere that you should not take it if you have a kidney disease – which I have. Is that correct or could I take it maybe even at a low dose?

Thank you,
N. C.

ANSWER:

Dear N.C.:
I am not aware of the study that shows people with kidney disease should not take chromium. I would like to know your source. There are several causes. Probably type II diabetes is the most common. Whether you take chromium or not may depend on your type of kidney disease.

A caveat: I am not a specialist in kidney diseases. I recommend that you consult a nephrologist — a physician who specializes in diseases of the kidney — and obtain his or her opinion about taking chromium.

Sorry I can’t be more definite. Please let me know what your nephrologist says.

Malcolm N. McLeod, MD