Efficacy and safety of chromium picolinate

Efficacy and safety of chromium picolinate

Dear Dr. McLeod,
Thank you for your book about the atypical depression. I am fifty fiveand I have been taking 400 mcg of chromium picolinate daily since 2weeks and it has been successful as I feel really better, less lightheaded, less daytime sleepiness, much more open to my relatives and relationships and mainly less tired. My cravings for starches us blunted ! I can’t believe it !

What is your opinion about the risk to take chromium for the long time at this dosage ?

Best regards, A. C.
Paris, France

Answer: I’m delighted that chromium has helped you. I have received many letters lilke yours. On to your question: Chromium is safe in the dosage you are taking. Several of my patients (and me as well) have taken 800 mcg of Chromax chromium picoliate per day for over a decade.

Thank you for contacting me.
Malcolm McLeod, MD

Can I take chromium while breast feeding?

Can I take chromium while breast feeding?

Question:
I have suffered from depression and anxiety for almost 20 years. I would like to try the Chromax chromium but I am currently breastfeeding. Is it safe to take while breastfeeding or should I wait until after my baby is weaned?

Answer:
Thank you so much for your question. Several people, including my daugher and daughers-in-law, have asked this same question.
You may be able to find the answer to your question by going to the web page of the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), which is a branch of the National Institutes of Health. The ODS does recommend supplementation with chromium while breast feeding, but the recommend amount is less than that required to lift depression in my non-breast-feeding patients. In other words, I wonder if the amount the ODS recommends is too small to help with depression in a breastfeeding woman. In the absence of an abundant literature on larger amounts of chromium while breast feeding, you must make a personal decision whether to take larger amounts.

I wish you well and hope you get back to me with your decision and results.
Malcolm McLeod

Can chromium lower blood sugar too much?

Can chromium lower blood sugar too much?

Q: I think that maybe chromium brings my blood sugar TOO far down (I am a normal-not insulin resistant-individual, and am extremely drug sensitive to even very small doses of just about everything)?

A: That’s a good question. I’m not aware that chromium causes blood sugar to fall too low. There are many causes of low blood sugar. One of the most frequent causes is eating sugar and rapidly absorbed carbohydrates. Caffeine can cause low blood sugar in some people.

Before concluding that chromium causes low blood sugar, I suggest eating a healthy diet free of sugar, white bread and potatoes and reduce caffeine intake while taking chromium. Please let me know your response.
MM