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. 2014 Oct 9;12(10):3845. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3845

Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for chromium

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)
PMCID: PMC13136993  PMID: 42087961

Abstract

Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) considered the evidence for setting Dietary Reference Values for chromium. Trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) has been postulated to be necessary for the efficacy of insulin in regulating the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. However, the mechanism(s) for these roles and the essential function of Cr(III) in metabolism have not been substantiated. The criteria for the essentiality of a trace element were considered. It was noted that attempts to create chromium deficiency in animal models have not produced consistent results, and that there is no evidence of essentiality of Cr(III) in animal nutrition. Evaluating the possibility of Cr(III) as an essential element for humans, the evidence from reported improvements associated with chromium supplementation in patients on total parenteral nutrition was considered to be the most convincing, but overall data do not provide sufficient information on the reversibility of the possible deficiencies and the nature of any dose‐response curve in order to identify a dietary requirement for humans. The Panel concludes that no Average Requirement and no Population Reference Intake for chromium can be defined. Several studies assessed the effect of chromium supplementation on glucose and/or lipid metabolism. In the only study for which information on total chromium intake was available, there was no difference in parameters of glucose metabolism of normoglycaemic subjects between the placebo and chromium‐supplemented periods. The Panel considered that there is no evidence of beneficial effects associated with chromium intake in healthy subjects. The Panel concluded that the setting of an Adequate Intake for chromium is also not appropriate.

Keywords: chromium, essentiality, Dietary Reference Value

EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies) , 2014. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for chromium. EFSA Journal 2014;12(10):3845, 25 pp. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2014.3845

Panel members: Carlo Agostoni, Roberto Berni Canani, Susan Fairweather‐Tait, Marina Heinonen, Hannu Korhonen, Sébastien La Vieille, Rosangela Marchelli, Ambroise Martin, Androniki Naska, Monika Neuhäuser‐Berthold, Grażyna Nowicka, Yolanda Sanz, Alfonso Siani, Anders Sjödin, Martin Stern, Sean (J.J.) Strain, Inge Tetens, Daniel Tomé, Dominique Turck and Hans Verhagen.

Correspondence: nda@efsa.europa.eu

Acknowledgement: The Panel wishes to thank the members of the Working Group on Dietary Reference Values for minerals: Peter Aggett, Carlo Agostoni, Susan Fairweather‐Tait, Marianne Geleijnse, Michael Hambidge, Ambroise Martin, Androniki Naska, Hildegard Przyrembel and Alfonso Siani for the preparatory work on this scientific opinion and EFSA staff: Anja Brönstrup for the support provided to this scientific opinion.

Adoption date: 18 September 2014

Published date: 9 October 2014

Question number: EFSA‐Q‐2011‐01209

On request from: European Commission

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