Safety and efficacy of chromium methionine (Availa® Cr) as feed additive for all species

Efficacy of Availa®Cr (chromium chelate of dl-methionine) as a feed additive for dairy cows (Zinpro Animal Nutrition (Europe), Inc)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the efficacy of Availa®Cr (active compound: chromium chelate of dl-methionine) as a feed additive for dairy cows. In a previous opinion, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that Availa®Cr at a maximum recommended use level of 0.5 mg Cr(III) (8 mg Cr from Availa®Cr/cow per day) was safe for dairy cows and the consumers. Additionally, the FEEDAP Panel considered that the additives posed a risk to the user by inhalation, it was not irritant to skin and eyes, and it should be considered a skin sensitiser. The Panel could not conclude on the efficacy of the additive at the proposed conditions of use. Since the new information provided in the current application is lacking sufficient evidence, the FEEDAP Panel is still not in the position to conclude on the efficacy of chromium dl-methionine from Availa®Cr.

Effects of dietary chromium picolinate supplementation on broiler growth performance: A meta-analysis

Objective

A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the effects of dietary chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation on broiler growth performance and to determine whether such effects are regulated by broiler strains, sex, environmental stress, or contextual factors including study area and years.

Methods

Eligible studies were identified by searching the Web of Science, Springer, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, Taylor & Francis Online databases. Weighted average differences with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed with a random-effects model. We performed subgroup analysis stratified by study area, published years, broiler strains and sex, and environmental stress. Publication bias was assessed with Egger’s test method. A total of 15 studies eligible for inclusion.

Results

The results indicated that CrPic supplementation significantly improved broiler growth performance and subgroup analysis confirmed this conclusion. We also found that Ross 308 or male broilers might be more sensitive to CrPic supplementation and showed better growth performance. A model was used to obtain the amount of chromium addition under the optimal growth performance, which suggested that the maximum value of average daily gain (ADG) was reached when chromium addition was 1810 μg/kg. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed low sensitivity and high stability of the meta-analysis.

Conclusions

CrPic supplementation had a positive effect on the growth performance of broilers, and this meta-analysis provides a more accurate value of chromium addition, which may be beneficial for the practice of the broiler industry.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of chromium propionate (KemTRACE™ Chromium) for all growing poultry species (Kemin Europa NV)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of chromium propionate (KemTRACE™ Chromium; KemTRACE-Cr) as zootechnical feed additive for all growing poultry species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) Panel was assigned to this mandate. Based on two tolerance studies submitted, the Panel concluded that the additive is safe for chickens for fattening at the maximum recommended supplementation level of 0.4 mg Cr/kg feed from KemTRACE-Cr, but a margin of safety cannot be established; this conclusion can be extended to chickens reared for laying/breeding, but cannot be extrapolated to other growing poultry species. The FEEDAP Panel considered that the use of KemTRACE-Cr in animal nutrition at the proposed conditions of use is safe for the consumer. No concerns for users following any inhalation exposure during the handling of the additive are expected; the additive was shown to be corrosive to the eyes but not irritant to skin or a skin sensitiser. The use of KemTRACE-Cr in animal nutrition according to the proposed conditions of use will not significantly alter the concentration in the receiving environmental compartments of concern; therefore, no safety concern is expected for the environment. Based on three efficacy studies, the FEEDAP Panel concluded that KemTRACE-Cr has the potential to be efficacious as a zootechnical additive in chickens for fattening at the supplementation level of 0.4 mg Cr/kg feed; this conclusion could be extended to chickens reared for laying and chickens reared for breeding, and extrapolated to other poultry species for fattening and reared for laying/breeding.

Safety and efficacy of Availa®Cr (chromium chelate of DL-methionine) as a feed additive for dairy cows

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of Availa®Cr (active compound: chromium chelate of DL-methionine) as a feed additive for dairy cows. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) Panel was assigned to this mandate. The tolerance study did not show adverse effects with respect to body weight, milk yield, haematology and blood biochemistry up to the 10-fold overdose of chromium from Availa®Cr; however, owing to deficiencies in design and reporting of the study, it provided only supportive evidence on the safety of the additive. A safe level for dairy cows could be derived from a toxicological study with laboratory rodents. Taking all together, the FEEDAP Panel considers the maximum recommended use level (8 mg Cr from Availa®Cr/cow per day; about 0.4 mg Cr/kg complete feed) as safe. Chromium DL-Met shows a genotoxic activity in vitro that is not expressed in vivo after systemic exposure; although no data on genotoxicity at the site of contact are available, the Panel notes that chromium(III) is not carcinogenic and concludes that chromium DL-Met is unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk at levels occurring in the diet. The use of Availa®Cr in feed of dairy cows up to the recommended supplementation level would not measurably increase consumer exposure to chromium(III), and therefore is safe for consumers. The additive poses a risk to users by inhalation, it is not an irritant to skin and eyes and should be considered a sensitiser. The use of the additive is not expected to pose a risk to the environment. Since only one study could be considered for the efficacy assessment, and three studies are required, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the efficacy of Availa®Cr for dairy cows.

Dietary Supplementation with Chromium Picolinate Influences Serum Glucose and Immune Response of Brown-Egg Laying Hens

To investigate the effect of chromium picolinate (CrPic) on egg production performance, egg quality, blood indices, and immune function of laying hens, 270 23-week-old Beijing Red brown-egg laying hens were randomly assigned to one of three treatments with six replicates of 15 birds per replicate for each treatment in a completely randomized design. Laying hens were fed a Cr-unsupplemented corn-soybean meal basal diet (control, containing 0.45 mg Cr/kg by analysis) or the basal diet supplemented with 0.4 or 0.6 mg Cr/kg from CrPic for 10 weeks. Laying hens fed diets supplemented with CrPic had a lower (P < 0.05) serum glucose (GLU) concentration and higher (P < 0.03) serum antibody titer against Newcastle disease than those fed the control diet at 33 weeks of age. However, supplemental CrPic had no effect (P > 0.05) on egg production and egg quality of brown-egg laying hens from 24 to 33 weeks of age. The results from this study indicated that supplemental CrPic decreased serum GLU and enhanced the immune function of brown-egg laying hens.