supplements only under the supervision of a health care provider, Mount Sinai experts say.
Some of the drugs that chromium can interact with include antacids, like Tums, Mylanta, Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec.
And if you already take diabetes medications, chromium might lower blood sugar levels to dangerous levels. These medications include insulin, metformin, Diabeta (glyburide), Glucotrol (glypizide) or Diabinese (chlorpropamide).
Also, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, Advil, Motrin and Aleve can raise chromium levels in the body.
Meanwhile, steroids can lower chromium levels in the body. And if you take Synthroid (levothyroxine) to treat a hypoactive thyroid, chromium might lower the amount of the drug the body absorbs.
If you are taking any of these medications, you should speak with your doctor about the risk of taking chromium supplements.
Chromium in foods
“Chromium is present in many foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and poultry, so supplementation is generally unnecessary,” Heller says, noting that chromium deficiency has not been reported in healthy populations and there are no definitive deficiency symptoms. Adequate intake for adult men is set at 35 mcg/day and for adult women, 25 mcg/day, she adds.
Sources of chromium include:
- Whole grain breads and cereals
- Lean meats
- Cheeses
- Spices, such as black pepper and thyme
- Brewer’s yeast
- Some bran cereals
- Pork kidneys and other organ meats
- Mushroom
- Oatmeal
- Prunes
- Nuts
- Asparagus