Tissue accumulation and urinary excretion of Cr in chromium picolinate (CrPic)-supplemented lambs

[Display omitted] •We used ICP–MS and 52Cr as collected mass to measure Cr in tissue.•There is a relationship between dose and Cr in the heart, lung and testis.•Urinary excretion of Cr occurred in a time and dose-dependent manner.•There is a risk of bioaccumulation due to Cr offered as CrPic in the diet. Chromium (Cr) concentrations in liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lymph node, skeletal muscle, bone, testis and urine of lambs were measured to trace the biodistribution and bioaccumulation of Cr after oral supplementation with chromium picolinate (CrPic). Twenty-four Santa Inês lambs were treated with four different concentrations of CrPic: placebo, 0.250, 0.375 and 0.500mg of CrPic/animal/day for 84 days. The basal diet consisted of Panicum maximum cv Massai hay and concentrate. Cr concentrations were measured by ICP–MS measuring 52Cr as collected mass. There was a positive linear relationship between dose administered and the accumulation of Cr in the heart, lungs and testis. Urinary excretion of Cr occurred in a time and dose-dependent manner, so the longer or more dietary Cr provided, the greater excretion of the element. As some non-carcass components (such as lungs or heart) are added to bone and visceral meal to feed animals, there is a risk of bioaccumulation and biomagnification due to Cr offered as CrPic in the diet.