Chromium picolinate is a nutritional supplement that works to increase the efficiency of insulin to optimal levels. Gaining increased popularity in the United States, this supplement has been touted a miracle mineral, one advertised to have myriad effects including weight loss, mood enhancement, energy promotion, increase in life span, and even the prevention of acne (Krzanowski, 1996).
The most common usage for chromium picolinate is as a weight loss aid; claims that this supplement can melt fat, drastically reduce appetite, and increase metabolism are rampant and account for the popularity of Chromium picolinate in our diet obsessed culture. Recently, the supplement has been marketed as a safe alternative to steroids, claiming to increase strength and lean muscle mass. Chromium picolinate is a common ingredient in many herbal weight-loss concoctions readily available for over-the-counter sale at the local drugstore or on the internet. Scientific research is generally unsupportive of the weight loss claims surrounding chromium picolinate; consumers must be aware of these discrepancies when making a decision to take this or any other nutritional supplement.
This popular nutritional supplement is a combination of the element chromium and picolinic acid. Chromium is a naturally-occurring mineral, trace amounts of which are found in everyday foods like meat, poultry, fish, and whole-grain breads. When foods are processed, they are stripped of natural chromium, making American diets generally very low in chromium; studies estimate an average daily chromium consumption of 33 mcg. In 1968, it was demonstrated that when animals do not receive adequate levels of chromium, insulin is not optimally effective, and damage to insulin-dependent systems can occur.
This led the FDA to recommend a daily chromium intake of approximately 130 mcg, as infinitesimal amounts of chromium are needed to aid the transport of blood glucose across cell membranes. Combining chromium with picolinic acid simply aids in efficient chromium absorption, and it is this combined form that is popular on the diet market today.
Chromium is an essential trace mineral, important in processing carbohydrates and fats, and helping cells respond properly to insulin which is the hormone produced in the pancreas, that makes blood sugar available to the cells as our basic fuel. In theory chromium might promote weight loss, treat diabetes, and perhaps even help prevent heart disease.
So far the most carefully conducted studies on chromium have shown no benefits for weight loss. One large clinical trial conducted in China found that chromium was helpful for those with diabetes but the Chinese, including those with diabetes, are less likely to be obese than Americans, and their chromium levels were not evaluated at the start of the study. Low levels of chromium are characteristic of diabetes, but there’s no evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship, or any reason to think Americans are deficient in chromium.
Chromium picolinate is available in capsule and tablet forms at your local or internet health food store. Look for name brands to ensure quality and purity of the product you purchase. Diets low in chromium may not show signs of deficiency but can reduce ones ability to use insulin properly as well as loose weight.
*Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Chromium Picolinate is not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication or adding Vitamins to medications.
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