Manufacturers aggressively promote the benefits of chromium in the prevention and treatment of insulin resistance and its associated conditions (type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease), and the public has embraced its use.

However, the effect of chromium supplementation in individuals who are not severely chromium deficient is unclear. Severe chromium deficiency is known to cause reversible insulin resistance and diabetes ( 6– 8). Chromium picolinate is a formulation designed to improve absorption ( 5). Chromium chloride, chromium nicotinate, and chromium picolinate are commonly used formulations of trivalent chromium. It was originally discovered in brewer's yeast ( 4). Trivalent chromium in a complex known as glucose tolerance factor is considered the biologically active form. However, future studies that address the limitations in the current evidence are needed before definitive claims can be made about the effect of chromium supplementation.Ĭhromium is an essential mineral that is thought to be necessary for normal glucose and lipid homeostasis ( 1– 3). Chromium supplementation significantly improved glycemia among patients with diabetes. The evidence was limited by poor study quality, heterogeneity in methodology and results, and a lack of consensus on assessment of chromium status.ĬONCLUSIONS-No significant effect of chromium on lipid or glucose metabolism was found in people without diabetes. Larger effects were more commonly observed in poor-quality studies. There were some indications of dose effect and differences among chromium formulations. There was no benefit in individuals without diabetes. Among participants with type 2 diabetes, chromium supplementation improved glycosylated hemoglobin levels by −0.6% (95% CI −0.9 to −0.2) and fasting glucose by −1.0 mmol/l (−1.4 to −0.5) but not lipids. RESULTS-Forty-one studies met criteria, almost half of which were of poor quality. Meta-analyses were performed as appropriate.

All trials with glucose metabolism outcomes and trials of individuals with diabetes or glucose intolerance for lipid outcomes were included. Eligible studies were English language randomized controlled trials of chromium supplement intake ≥3 weeks, with ≥10 participants receiving chromium. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-A literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau. OBJECTIVE-A systematic review of the effect of chromium supplementation on glucose metabolism and lipid levels.

Foods rich in chromium picolinate