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PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - TOXICOLOGY - DRUG INTERACTIONS

Chromium (Polynicotinate)

Chromium is an essential dietary trace mineral involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.
Chromium is required for cellular uptake of glucose, and chromium deficiency causes insulin
resistance. Chromium supplementation may improve insulin sensitivity and has been used
as adjunct treatment of diabetes mellitus in humans. Chromium supplementation in diabetic
dogs at a level of 2.5-7.5 µg/kg for several months was found to be safe (Schachter et al.,
2001). Chromium has also been shown to be involved in protein synthesis, and nucleic acid
metabolism (NRC, 2006). Signs of chromium deficiency in humans and several animal species
have been found to include impaired glucose tolerance, elevated plasma insulin, hyperglycemia,
impaired growth, elevated plasma triglycerides, neuropathy, encephalopathy, corneal lesions
and decreased fertility and sperm count.

TOXICOLOGY Toxicity for chromium polynicotinate has not been documented in dogs and cats when administered orally in
therapeutic doses. Hexavalent chromium or chromium (Cr ) is a recognized carcinogen. In contrast, there is little
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evidence that trivalent chromium (Cr ) is toxic to humans (FNB & IOB, 2001b). Intravenous LD for nicotinic
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50
acid bound chromium complexes is approximately 1 g/kg of body weight in rats (EFSA, 2008).

DRUG Validated interactions studies do not exist for chromium preparations. Clinical
INTERACTIONS interactions with other drugs have not been reported. However, large doses of calcium
carbonate or magnesium hydroxide-containing antacids decreased chromium absorption
in rats. In contrast, aspirin and indomethacin both increased chromium absorption in rats
(Shils et al., 2006).

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