Healthy female rats were fed a chromium(III) propionate complex at up to 1000 mg chromium per kg of diet for 4 weeks. Liver and kidney chromium rose with dose, and the highest doses altered iron, zinc, copper and calcium status.
Key numbers
- Liver chromium: 2.96 ± 0.18 (control) to 17.88 ± 0.93 µg/g dry mass (1000 mg/kg diet); kidney: 1.69 ± 0.12 to 27.74 ± 1.09 µg/g dry mass; mean ± SEM, n = 6 per group (Table 3, p. 94).
- Dietary doses 100 to 1000 mg chromium/kg diet stated as equivalent to 10 to 100 mg chromium/kg body mass per day (abstract, p. 90).
Methods (brief)
Four-week feeding study; tissue chromium by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (controlled with Virginia tobacco leaves reference material CTA-VTL-2, recovery 102%) and other minerals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry with pig kidney reference material.
Evidence fitness
Supports dose-dependent tissue accumulation and mineral interactions at very high trivalent chromium intakes in rats. It does not establish effects at supplement doses used by people.
Limitations
Short study, female rats only, doses far above typical intake.
Related evidence
Update history
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