Weight Loss vs. DNA Damage

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http://www.health24.co.za/news.asp?action=art & SubContentTypeId=5 & ContentID=21471

Weight Loss vs. DNA Damage

March 18, 2003

You will do anything to lose weight, right? But would you consider taking a

weight loss supplement that may damage your DNA?

Before you buy your next " miracle " weight loss product, check the label for

chromium picolinate, a popular supplement for promoting weight loss and

building muscle that may also cause mutations in your DNA.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama in America,

has found that consumption of chromium picolinate by fruit flies led to

sterility and lethal genetic mutations.

The study findings were published in the advance online edition of the

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Four generations of fruit flies

It's not only " weight-conscious " fruit flies that are at risk. Past studies

have also found that chromium picolinate might cause DNA damage in rats.

According to study co-author Dr , researchers were unsure

whether the DNA damage caused was mild enough to be repaired by the body

itself or whether the mutations were serious enough to be passed onto

offspring.

In order to answer this question, 's team raised four generations of

fruit flies on a diet containing chromium picolinate. They then compared the

survival rate with a group of fruit flies that were not given the

supplement. In chromium-fed flies, 20 to 30 percent fewer flies reached

adulthood than flies in the normal group.

In a separate experiment, 's team fed the supplement to male flies

only. The researchers then recorded the effect on the flies' grandchildren.

They found that two generations down the line, there were very high rates of

mutations. There were less male grandchildren and an increased number of

sterile females.

Is chromium picolinate safe?

Chromium picolinate is at present regarded as a " safe " supplement and the US

Food and Drug Administration does not demand any testing of dietary

supplements before they reach the shelves. Studies like this one, may make

the FDA re-think their position.

In response to the study, Dr Hathcock, vice president of the Council

for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in America, issued an announcement that

downplayed 's findings and said that the study provides " no

meaningful conclusions that change the weight of the strong scientific

evidence for safety in humans " .

Hathcock revealed that after reviewing other relevant studies, there

appeared to be no adverse effects in people consuming 1 000 micrograms of

chromium picolinate per day.

Even though there may be a difference when it comes to comparing the effects

of the supplement on humans and fruit flies, believes that the study

results should be treated as a warning sign. (Health24)

_________________________________________________________________

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http://www.health24.co.za/news.asp?action=art & SubContentTypeId=5 & ContentID=21471

Weight Loss vs. DNA Damage

March 18, 2003

You will do anything to lose weight, right? But would you consider taking a

weight loss supplement that may damage your DNA?

Before you buy your next " miracle " weight loss product, check the label for

chromium picolinate, a popular supplement for promoting weight loss and

building muscle that may also cause mutations in your DNA.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama in America,

has found that consumption of chromium picolinate by fruit flies led to

sterility and lethal genetic mutations.

The study findings were published in the advance online edition of the

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Four generations of fruit flies

It's not only " weight-conscious " fruit flies that are at risk. Past studies

have also found that chromium picolinate might cause DNA damage in rats.

According to study co-author Dr , researchers were unsure

whether the DNA damage caused was mild enough to be repaired by the body

itself or whether the mutations were serious enough to be passed onto

offspring.

In order to answer this question, 's team raised four generations of

fruit flies on a diet containing chromium picolinate. They then compared the

survival rate with a group of fruit flies that were not given the

supplement. In chromium-fed flies, 20 to 30 percent fewer flies reached

adulthood than flies in the normal group.

In a separate experiment, 's team fed the supplement to male flies

only. The researchers then recorded the effect on the flies' grandchildren.

They found that two generations down the line, there were very high rates of

mutations. There were less male grandchildren and an increased number of

sterile females.

Is chromium picolinate safe?

Chromium picolinate is at present regarded as a " safe " supplement and the US

Food and Drug Administration does not demand any testing of dietary

supplements before they reach the shelves. Studies like this one, may make

the FDA re-think their position.

In response to the study, Dr Hathcock, vice president of the Council

for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in America, issued an announcement that

downplayed 's findings and said that the study provides " no

meaningful conclusions that change the weight of the strong scientific

evidence for safety in humans " .

Hathcock revealed that after reviewing other relevant studies, there

appeared to be no adverse effects in people consuming 1 000 micrograms of

chromium picolinate per day.

Even though there may be a difference when it comes to comparing the effects

of the supplement on humans and fruit flies, believes that the study

results should be treated as a warning sign. (Health24)

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

http://www.health24.co.za/news.asp?action=art & SubContentTypeId=5 & ContentID=21471

Weight Loss vs. DNA Damage

March 18, 2003

You will do anything to lose weight, right? But would you consider taking a

weight loss supplement that may damage your DNA?

Before you buy your next " miracle " weight loss product, check the label for

chromium picolinate, a popular supplement for promoting weight loss and

building muscle that may also cause mutations in your DNA.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama in America,

has found that consumption of chromium picolinate by fruit flies led to

sterility and lethal genetic mutations.

The study findings were published in the advance online edition of the

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Four generations of fruit flies

It's not only " weight-conscious " fruit flies that are at risk. Past studies

have also found that chromium picolinate might cause DNA damage in rats.

According to study co-author Dr , researchers were unsure

whether the DNA damage caused was mild enough to be repaired by the body

itself or whether the mutations were serious enough to be passed onto

offspring.

In order to answer this question, 's team raised four generations of

fruit flies on a diet containing chromium picolinate. They then compared the

survival rate with a group of fruit flies that were not given the

supplement. In chromium-fed flies, 20 to 30 percent fewer flies reached

adulthood than flies in the normal group.

In a separate experiment, 's team fed the supplement to male flies

only. The researchers then recorded the effect on the flies' grandchildren.

They found that two generations down the line, there were very high rates of

mutations. There were less male grandchildren and an increased number of

sterile females.

Is chromium picolinate safe?

Chromium picolinate is at present regarded as a " safe " supplement and the US

Food and Drug Administration does not demand any testing of dietary

supplements before they reach the shelves. Studies like this one, may make

the FDA re-think their position.

In response to the study, Dr Hathcock, vice president of the Council

for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in America, issued an announcement that

downplayed 's findings and said that the study provides " no

meaningful conclusions that change the weight of the strong scientific

evidence for safety in humans " .

Hathcock revealed that after reviewing other relevant studies, there

appeared to be no adverse effects in people consuming 1 000 micrograms of

chromium picolinate per day.

Even though there may be a difference when it comes to comparing the effects

of the supplement on humans and fruit flies, believes that the study

results should be treated as a warning sign. (Health24)

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

http://www.health24.co.za/news.asp?action=art & SubContentTypeId=5 & ContentID=21471

Weight Loss vs. DNA Damage

March 18, 2003

You will do anything to lose weight, right? But would you consider taking a

weight loss supplement that may damage your DNA?

Before you buy your next " miracle " weight loss product, check the label for

chromium picolinate, a popular supplement for promoting weight loss and

building muscle that may also cause mutations in your DNA.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Alabama in America,

has found that consumption of chromium picolinate by fruit flies led to

sterility and lethal genetic mutations.

The study findings were published in the advance online edition of the

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Four generations of fruit flies

It's not only " weight-conscious " fruit flies that are at risk. Past studies

have also found that chromium picolinate might cause DNA damage in rats.

According to study co-author Dr , researchers were unsure

whether the DNA damage caused was mild enough to be repaired by the body

itself or whether the mutations were serious enough to be passed onto

offspring.

In order to answer this question, 's team raised four generations of

fruit flies on a diet containing chromium picolinate. They then compared the

survival rate with a group of fruit flies that were not given the

supplement. In chromium-fed flies, 20 to 30 percent fewer flies reached

adulthood than flies in the normal group.

In a separate experiment, 's team fed the supplement to male flies

only. The researchers then recorded the effect on the flies' grandchildren.

They found that two generations down the line, there were very high rates of

mutations. There were less male grandchildren and an increased number of

sterile females.

Is chromium picolinate safe?

Chromium picolinate is at present regarded as a " safe " supplement and the US

Food and Drug Administration does not demand any testing of dietary

supplements before they reach the shelves. Studies like this one, may make

the FDA re-think their position.

In response to the study, Dr Hathcock, vice president of the Council

for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) in America, issued an announcement that

downplayed 's findings and said that the study provides " no

meaningful conclusions that change the weight of the strong scientific

evidence for safety in humans " .

Hathcock revealed that after reviewing other relevant studies, there

appeared to be no adverse effects in people consuming 1 000 micrograms of

chromium picolinate per day.

Even though there may be a difference when it comes to comparing the effects

of the supplement on humans and fruit flies, believes that the study

results should be treated as a warning sign. (Health24)

_________________________________________________________________

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