Chromium in Diet

Chromium in Diet: Recommendations

There has been great interest in chromium's potential to help people lose weight and increase their lean body mass, however, multiple studies have not shown any of these effects.

There are no USDA recommended dietary allowances for chromium. According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, the safe and adequate daily intakes of chromium are as follows:

• Infants
  • 0 to 6 months: 0.2 mcg
  • 7 to 12 months: 5.5 mcg
• Children
  • 1 to 3 years: 11 mcg
  • 4 to 8 years: 15 mcg
  • 9 to 13 years: 21 to 25 mcg
• Adolescents
  • males 14 to 18 years: 35 mcg
  • females 14 to 18 years: 24 mcg
• Adult males
  • 19 to 50 years: 35 mcg
  • older than 50: 30 mcg
• Adult females
  • 19 to 50 years: 25 mcg
  • older than 50: 20 mcg
  • pregnant: 29 to 30 mcg
  • lactating: 44 to 45 mcg

Note: mcg = micrograms