Chromium Picolinate Dosage
Because chromium picolinate is a supplement, there is little information available about the safest and most effective dosage. However, there is an "adequate intake" (or AI) dosage that has been recommended by the Institute of Medicine. The AI chromium picolinate dosage ranges from 0.2 mcg per day for newborns, all the way up to 45 mcg per day for women who are breastfeeding.
An Introduction to Chromium Picolinate DosageIt is important to note that unlike medications (for which the standard doses have been well established), there is less information available for determining the best dose for chromium picolinate.
The Institute of Medicine establishes a recommended daily intake, or RDI, for most vitamins and minerals. When there is not enough evidence to establish an RDI, an "adequate intake" (AI) amount is usually used. The AI for chromium ranges from 0.2 mcg per day for newborns, all the way up to 45 mcg per day for women who are breastfeeding (with amounts in between for everyone else, depending on age and sex). Studies have shown that most Americans (except pregnant and breastfeeding women) get enough chromium through their diets.
There is not enough evidence to recommend a maximum daily dose of chromium picolinate. This should not be interpreted to mean that any dose of chromium picolinate is safe; it just means that we do not know how much is too much.
Most chromium picolinate supplements (other than chromium in multivitamins) contain much more chromium than the recommended adequate intake. In general, studies of chromium picolinate for various uses have used doses of 200 mcg to 1000 mcg per day. It is not yet known what is the best (both safe and effective) dose for chromium picolinate for any other use except general dietary supplementation (in which case the AI amount is probably best).