CHROMIUM(III) PICOLINATE PRODUCES CHROMOSOME-DAMAGE IN CHINESE-HAMSTER OVARY CELLS

Chromium(III) complexes currently being sold as dietary supplements we re tested for their ability to cause chromosomal aberrations in Chines e hamster ovary cells. Complexes were tested in soluble and particulat e forms. Chromium picolinate was found to produce chromosome damage 3- fold to 18-fold above control levels for soluble doses of 0.050, 0.10, 0.50, and 1.0 mM after 24 h treatment. Particulate chromium picolinat e doses of 8.0 mu g/cm(2) (corresponding to a 0.10 mM solubilized dose ) and 40 mu g/cm(2) (0.50 mM) produced aberrations 4-fold and 16-fold above control levels, respectively. Toxicity was measured as a decreas e in plating efficiency relative to controls. The above treatments pro duced greater than or equal to 86% survival for all doses except 1.0 m M chromium picolinate, which produced 69 +/- 10% survival. Chromium ni cotinate, nicotinic acid, and chromium(III) chloride hexahydrate did n ot produce chromosome damage at equivalent nontoxic doses. Damage was inferred to he caused by tile picolinate ligand because picolinic acid in the absence of chromium was clastogenic. Data are evaluated in ter ms of their relevance to human exposure based on pharmacokinetic model ing of tissue accumulation and are discussed in terms of literature re porting toxic effects of picolinic acid.