The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found hazardous amounts of chromium in some flavors of a dietary supplement called Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula.
The samples contained up to 3,426 micrograms of chromium for the recommended serving (17 times the recommended intake). The recommended chromium intake for an adult ranges from 35 to 45 micrograms per day.
Excessive consumption of chromium can cause fatigue, muscle cramps, hyperactivity, hypoglycemia, renal failure and liver toxicity. Excessive chromium intake also can interfere with certain medications.
The new FDA finding comes as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the number of confirmed cases of adverse reactions in consumers using the products has climbed to at least 201 people in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
Consumers were first warned in March not to purchase and to discontinue the use of Total Body Formula in tropical orange and peach nectar flavors and Total Body Mega Formula in the orange/tangerine flavor.