Recommended chromium intakes are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.1 Dietary Reference Intakes is the general term for a set of reference values to plan and assess the nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values include the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and the Adequate Intake (AI). The RDA is the average daily intake that meets a nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy individuals.2 An AI is established when there is insufficient research to establish an RDA; it is generally set at a level that healthy people typically consume.

Age Infants and children (mcg/day) Males(mcg/day) Females(mcg/day) Pregnancy(mcg/day) Lactation(mcg/day)
0 to 6 months 0.2        
7 to 12 months 5.5        
1 to 3 years 11        
4 to 8 years 15        
9 to 13 years   25 21    
14 to 18 years   35 24 29 44
19 to 50 years   35 25 30 45
>50 years   30 20    


Absorption of chromium from the intestinal tract is low, ranging from less than 0.4% to 2.5% of the amount consumed,3456789 and the remainder is excreted in the feces.1011 Enhancing the mineral's absorption are vitamin C (found in fruits and vegetables and their juices) and the B vitamin niacin (found in meats, poultry, fish, and grain products).12 Absorbed chromium is stored in the liver, spleen, soft tissue, and bone.13

The body's chromium content may be reduced under several conditions. Diets high in simple sugars (comprising more than 35% of calories) can increase chromium excretion in the urine.14 Infection, acute exercise, pregnancy and lactation, and stressful states (such as physical trauma) increase chromium losses and can lead to deficiency, especially if chromium intakes are already low.1516

Related Links: What is chromium? | What foods provide chromium? | How much chromium do I need? | What happens if I do not get enough chromium? | Do I need extra chromium? | Can chromium be harmful? | What are some current issues and controversies about chromium? | Does chromium interact with any medicines or supplements? |

Disclaimer

Reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document and the information provided herein is believed to be accurate. However, this information is not intended to constitute an "authoritative statement" under Food and Drug Administration rules and regulations.

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Footnotes

  1. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 2001. Cabrera-Vique C, Teissedre P-L, Cabanis M-T, Cabinis J-C. Determination and levels of chromium in French wine and grapes by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem 1997;45:1808-11. [↩]
  2. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 2001. Cabrera-Vique C, Teissedre P-L, Cabanis M-T, Cabinis J-C. Determination and levels of chromium in French wine and grapes by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem 1997;45:1808-11. [↩]
  3. Doisy RJ, Streeten DHP, Souma ML, Kalafer ME, Rekant SL, Dalakos TG. Metabolism of 51chromium in human subjects. In: Newer Trace Elements in Nutrition (edited by Mertz W, Cornatzer WE). Dekker, New York, 1971, pp. 155-68. [↩]
  4. Anderson RA, Polansky MM, Bryden NA, Patterson KY, Veillon C, Glinsmann WH. Effects of chromium supplementation on urinary Cr excretion of human subjects and correlation of Cr excretion with selected clinical parameters. J Nutr 1983;113:276-81. [↩]
  5. Bunker VW, Lawson MS, Delves HT, Clayton BE. The uptake and excretion of chromium by the elderly. Am J Clin Nutr 1984;39:797-802. [↩]
  6. Anderson RA, Kolovsky AS. Chromium intake, absorption and excretion of subjects consuming self-selected diets. Am J Clin Nutr 1985;41:1177-83. [↩]
  7. Offenbacher EG, Spencer H, Dowling HJ, Pi-Sunyer FX. Metabolic chromium balances in men. Am J Clin Nutr 1986;44:77-82. [↩]
  8. Anderson RA, Polansky MM, Bryden NA, Canary JJ. Supplemental-chromium effects on glucose, insulin, glucagon, and urinary chromium losses in subjects consuming controlled low-chromium diets. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;54:909-16. [↩]
  9. Anderson RA, Bryden NA, Patterson KY, Veillon C, Andon MB, Moser-Veillon PB. Breast milk chromium and its association with chromium intake, chromium excretion, and serum chromium. Am J Clin Nutr 1993;57:419-23. [↩]
  10. Mertz W. Chromium occurrence and function in biological systems. Physiol Rev 1969;49:163-239. [↩]
  11. Offenbacher EG, Spencer H, Dowling HJ, Pi-Sunyer FX. Metabolic chromium balances in men. Am J Clin Nutr 1986;44:77-82. [↩]
  12. Offenbacher E. Promotion of chromium absorption by ascorbic acid. Trace Elem Elect 1994;11:178-81. [↩]
  13. Lim TH, Sargent T 3rd, Kusubov N. Kinetics of trace element chromium(III) in the human body. Am J Physiol 1983;244:R445-54. [↩]
  14. Kozlovsky AS, Moser PB, Reiser S, Anderson RA. Effects of diets high in simple sugars on urinary chromium losses. Metabolism 1986;35:515-8. [↩]
  15. Anderson R. Stress Effects on Chromium Nutrition in Humans and Animals, 10th Edition. Nottingham University Press, England, 1994. [↩]
  16. Lukaski HC, Bolonchuk WW, Siders WA, Milne DB. Chromium supplementation and resistance training: effects on body composition, strength and trace element status of men. Am J Clin Nutr 1996;63:954-65. [↩]

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