Mixture of chromium di- and tri-nicotinate as a source of chromium added for nutritional purposes in food supplements and in foods for particular nutritional uses - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS)

Abstract

SUMMARY Following a request from the Commission to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Foods (ANS Panel) was asked to provide a scientific opinion on the safety of chromium nicotinate added for nutritional purposes as a source for chromium in food supplements and in foods intended for particular nutritional uses and on the bioavailability of chromium from this source. The present opinion deals only with the safety of a particular source of chromium and the bioavailability of chromium from this source, intended to be used in foods for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTS) and in foods supplements. Studies in rodents reveal a low (<1%) bioavailability of trivalent chromium from various sources, including chromium nicotinate. In general, the low bioavailability of chromium found in rodents is comparable to that noted in humans, which was also reported to be low (0.5 to 2.0%). The Panel concludes that chromium bioavailability from chromium nicotinate is low and comparable to the bioavailability of trivalent chromium from other sources.