Background Information
Chromium is a trace mineral present in the body in very small quantities. It is an essential nutrient that potentiates insulin action and this influences carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism.

 Effects on Health
The recommended intake for chromium is 35 mcg/d for men and 25 mcg/d for women. The form of chromium found in food supplements, chromium III, has not been found to produce adverse effects in humans. The No Observed Adverse Effects Level (NOAEL) for chromium has been set at 1000 mcg/d for chromium III. Although the effects of chromium supplements (200-400 mcg) on increasing lean body mass and reducing body fat are equivocal, there is no evidence that chromium supplements increase muscle strength. There is very little information on the chromium supplements increase muscle strength. There is very little information on the chromium content of athlete's diets. Because chromium intake from diet is low ranging from 25 to 40 mcg/d, use of chromium supplements generally will not exceed the NOAEL. However, the biological effects of long-term chromium supplements are not known.

 Effects on Performance
Exercise produces an acute increase of chromium concentration in the blood and increased chromium excretion in the urine. Whether the increase in urinary chromium can result in a negative chromium balance is not known. Carbohydrate content of the diet can also influence chromium loss with simple sugars associated with an increase in urinary chromium compared to complex carbohydrates.
Chromium has been marketed as a supplement to increase lean body mass and strength, and fat loss. The increase in lean body mass is speculated to occur as a result of chromium's transport of amino acids into the cells. However, studies of the effects of chromium supplementation on lean body mass in athletes have concluded that it is not effective. There is no reputable scientific evidence that chromium supplement per se increases muscle mass or strength.