Scientists' health fears over slimming supplement

Researchers claim a bodybuilding and slimming supplement taken by millions of people worldwide may cause genetic damage that can be passed down through generations.

Early results from an as-yet unpublished study of pregnant mice, suggest that a possible link between chromium picolinate and miscarriages cannot be ruled out.

There is also evidence that fruit flies fed the supplement in doses equivalent to those taken by humans suffered inherited DNA mutations.

Many of the flies failed to reach key stages in their early development, and an increased number of females were born sterile.

Dr John Vincent, from the University of Alabama, Tucaloosa, led the fruit flies research.

He said: "We believe that it's extremely likely that the results of this study would be reflected in human beings, although we cannot say that with absolute certainty. I personally wouldn't take this supplement myself."

He said a colleague at the university who was taking the research further forward had started to find alarming results from a study of pregnant mice.

Foetuses in mice given chromium picolinate were dying, raising the theoretical possibility that the supplement may be linked to miscarriages. Dr Vincent said: "You cannot rule it out - that's all we can say at the moment."

Some of the mouse offspring also suffered minor birth defects. The evidence, due to be presented at a meeting in the US this summer, was strengthened by the fact that it was dose related. The more chromium picolinate the mice consumed, the more likely they were to lose their offspring.

Previous studies have already shown that the supplement can damage cells in test tubes and oxidise DNA in live rats. Researchers have also linked the tablets to higher cancer rates and other health problems.