General Questions about Chromium
What is chromium?
Chromium is a trace mineral found naturally in fresh produce, seeds, nuts, and whole grains that have been cultivated in mineral-rich soil. Chromium supports glucose metabolism by helping sensitize the body to insulin, a hormone that promotes the cellular uptake of glucose to be used as energy.
What are some risk factors for a chromium deficiency?
A diet rich in fresh produce and whole grains can typically supply the body with adequate amounts of chromium. However, today’s over-reliance on refined and processed foods can be an obstacle to consuming adequate amounts of chromium from dietary sources alone. Further, research suggests that diets high in sugar, excessive exercise, and stress may cause chromium losses through increased urination and that senior citizens may be more vulnerable to chromium deficiency than younger adults.
Are there any food sources of chromium?
Broccoli is often considered one of the best sources of chromium with an estimated 11 mcg of chromium per ½ cup serving. Most whole-grains, leafy green vegetables, seeds and nuts provide chromium. However, chromium in food is typically present in very small amounts and the absorption of chromium in the digestive tract is low (less than 2.5% of the amount consumed), which makes chromium supplementation essential for individuals who are at risk for deficiency or deficiency-related health conditions.
What is the recommended daily allowance for chromium?
The 100% daily value (%DV) for chromium for individuals 18 years of age and older is 35 mcg. However, the body’s need for chromium goes up to 45 mcg per day during pregnancy/breastfeeding. As with any supplement, please talk to your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to ensure you are following the dosing schedule that is right for your particular health needs.
Is there an established upper toxicity limit for chromium?
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is considered to be the highest amount you can take of a nutrient without theoretical risk. The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine has not set a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for chromium since no adverse effects have been observed from the intake of chromium from food or supplements.
Isn’t chromium an environmental toxin and carcinogen?
Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) is used for industrial purposes and is a highly toxic human carcinogen. Trivalent chromium (Cr3+), on the other hand, is a form of chromium found naturally in food and is safe and non-toxic.
Can chromium supplements be taken with OTC or prescription medications?
If you are taking or planning to take an OTC or prescription medication, please consult a licensed pharmacist or your healthcare provider before beginning supplementation to minimize risk of side effects associated with potential supplement-drug interactions.
Still have questions?
- For general information about chromium, check out the resources below—
- Chromium Fact Sheet for Consumers — Office of Dietary Supplements
- Chromium — Linus Pauling Institute
- Chromium — Harvard School of Public Health
- For specific guidance on the suitability of chromium to support your particular health goals, please talk to your healthcare provider.
Questions about Chromium Gold
What form of chromium is in Chromium Gold?
Chromium Gold provides a gentle and nourishing form of plant-based chromium from Moringa leaf and other ingredients in the organic food blend. The full list of organic foods can be found under the ‘Organic Food Blend’ in the supplement facts panel (on the label) and on the product page on our website.
The form of chromium found in food is trivalent chromium (Cr3+). Chromium Gold is a gentle and nourishing form of plant-based chromium that is derived entirely from natural food sources—it is not synthetic chromium fermented, grown or cultured in yeast marketed as “whole-food” chromium or a blend of organic foods fortified with synthetic chromium marketed as “food-based” chromium.
What is moringa leaf?
Moringa leaf is known to be one of the richest food sources of vitamins and minerals currently available and serves as a primary source of the elemental chromium in Chromium Gold. It is native to India and has been used for centuries to support whole-body wellness.
How does Chromium Gold compare with chromium picolinate and GTF chromium?
Chromium picolinate is synthetically created by binding chromium to picolinic acid. Picolinic acid is used as a chelation agent in an effort to increase absorption and enhance uptake of chromium by the body's tissues. In 1957, a compound in brewer's yeast was discovered that helped support normal levels of blood glucose in rats. This compound was called Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) and chromium was eventually identified as the active ingredient in this glucose tolerance factor. Many chromium supplements today are offered as part of a brewer's yeast complex and are typically labeled as GTF chromium.
The chromium in Chromium Gold is derived entirely from natural foods—it is not synthetic chromium fermented, grown or cultured in yeast or a blend of organic foods fortified with synthetic chromium and marketed as “whole-food” or “food-based” chromium.
What is the best time of day to take Chromium Gold?
Chromium supports insulin sensitivity and the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Given this, chromium is often best taken before eating. For optimal results, we suggest taking 1 capsule of Chromium Gold 30 minutes before food, once or twice per day. However, as a matter of principle and in the interest of your health and safety, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine what use, if any, is best for your particular needs.
What is the purpose of the organic food blend in Chromium Gold?
At Nutrigold, we are mindful of the fact that every ingredient in a product, regardless of whether it is an active ingredient that provides a health benefit or an additive that ensures finished product integrity, can and will likely have some impact on consumers’ health. This is why we are philosophically opposed to the use of synthetic, semi-synthetic, or commodity additives like magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide commonly found in most commercially-available supplements. We choose instead to use plant-based, pantry-friendly functional additives that not only have a history of safe use, but may help support the bioavailability and absorption of chromium in the food blend.
How does NutriGold ensure the purity of the ingredients used in its Chromium Gold product?
At NutriGold, we go above and beyond what is recommended or required under current GMPs to independently verify that the raw materials used in our products as well as the finished products themselves meet industry-defining quality and purity standards. Depending on the complexity of the testing involved, including determining what needs to be tested, what methods are fit-for-purpose, and which lab is most qualified to perform the testing, we sometimes have results from as many as 4 or 5 different independent, ISO-certified labs for each product. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis that are freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.
What assurance can you provide that the amount of chromium listed on the label (200 mcg) is actually in the product?
All of our products are verified by independent third-party labs to meet identity, purity, and potency label claims. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (C of A) that are freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions. The C of A provides assurance that the claims made on the label accurately reflect the contents of the product inside the bottle. If interested, more information on our our commitment to independent, third party quality testing can be found at this link - https://nutrigold.com/pages/accountability
What is a pullulan capsule? What is it made from?
Pullulan is a vegetable-derived, water-soluble polysaccharide produced through a natural fermentation process. Pullulan capsules are considered more natural than HPMC (cellulose) capsules because they are naturally derived from fermented tapioca. Unlike cellulose capsules, which are considered semi-synthetic and not permitted in certified organic products, pullulan is included in the USDA’s National Organic Program list of accepted ingredients for organic products.
Can I break apart the capsule and add the contents to liquid/food to consume?
All of our products are formulated to be taken as capsules and our purity and potency claims are based on the product being taken as recommended. We generally do not recommend breaking apart the capsules because it can introduce contaminants or otherwise compromise product potency and effectiveness.
Is Chromium Gold suitable for children (under 18 years of age)?
Chromium Gold is formulated for individuals over 18 years. Because children are considered a vulnerable population, we regret we cannot make any recommendations regarding the use of our products by or for children under the age of 18. We ask that you talk to your pediatrician or family practitioner about whether or not Chromium Gold is suitable and safe for your child’s particular healthcare needs prior to supplementation.