Chromium Picolinate Study Shows No Improvement in Metabolic Syndrome
Wednesday July 1, 2009
A study from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine investigated the effectiveness of chromium picolinate on insulin sensitivity in obese adults who had metabolic syndrome.
The 63 participants took either chromium picolinate or a placebo twice a day for 16 weeks. Insulin sensitivity, and other hallmarks of metabolic syndrome, including oxidative stress, fasting lipid serums (cholesterol and triglycerides), body weight, and inflammation markers were measured.
The results of the study showed that chromium picolinate did not affect any of these. It did seem to increase the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin when it was needed to control glucose in the blood.
The scientists state that chromium picolinate is not an effective treatment for metabolic syndrome. Diet and exercise are still the best way to prevent or reverse metabolic syndrome.
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Comments
Since I’m diabetic, and almost always have some amount of excess glucose in my blood, doesn’t “increase the ability of the pancreas to secrete insulin when it was needed” seem like a good thing?
I would say that every little bit helps when it comes to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
It might not prevent or reverse metabolic syndrome but if it helps the pancreas release more insulin in response to excess blood sugar, that seems like a good thing to me too.
Does anybody use chromium picolinate? What are your results? Do you notice a difference?
Post your comments here.
Deb Manzella RN
Deb Manzella
i’ve used chromium picolinate for probably 10 years, i seem to have little or no side effects from the use of it. i take three 200 mcg tablets a day, one with each meal. i weigh 300 pounds and my cholesterol levels are always around 180 with very high hdl cholesterol levels. my triglycerides are normal and my glucose levels are safely within normal parameters. my mother is a brittle diabetic and other members of my family have problems with cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels. so i believe the chromium is helping me to stabilize my numbers. a big part of my 300 pounds is due to my love of chocolate and pastries, i also eat more than my share of sausage and pork products. thought i would share this info with you since you are looking for personal testimonials regarding the efficacy of chromium picolinate.
How much chromium did this study use? It’s a fundamental piece of info that isn’t divulged. These negative studies on supplements use allways the same trick: they use ineffective doses, and after getting (naturally) negative results, they announce with grand fanfare that the substance is completely ineffective. What a relief to Big Pharma! I take 4500 mcg of chromium daily for depression (and, I guess, the accompanying metabolic syndrome – but I never made the necessary tests)divided in 4 doses, and I’ve been able to keep the antidepressant at a low dose (my psychiatrist tells me that this dose is merely profilatic). I’m quite sure that my depression is due to high insulin (insulin resistance) because the depression appeared after, due to unfortunate historical circunstances, I had to stop the daily, and quite intensive, physical exercise program I maintained for almost 10 years (swimming).
Don’t believe in this study (or any other study) if the doses used and the methods applied aren’t clearly stated.
I take Chromax chromium picolinate. It does work! I agree too there are no side effects it works on depression too. This study actually bodes well for chromium picolinate.
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 8 years ago. I’m in my early 30’s now, I’m overweight, and have been for most of my life, trying all kinds of crazy diets throughout the years to try and get healthy and bring my glucose numbers down. I’ve had some temporary success with a couple of the diets I tried, but the weight always managed to creep it’s way back up and over what it was before. Maybe I’ve been trying to do diets that I just couldn’t stick to… like South Beach. Obviously, this has not been good on my blood sugar levels, and there were times that even while taking 500mg of Metformin 2x’s daily, my blood glucose would often read in the high 200’s, and once even 320 on my little meter. And this would be after eating a cup of fresh fruit from my local Publix Supermarket. Fruit! It was very frustrating, especially since I have been eating healthier than most of my friends without diabetes. Three months ago I started taking Chromium Picolinate (800mcg) once a day in the mornings to see if it would help. I am normally VERY SKEPTICAL about things like this, and really did not expect much, but I can honestly say that this has really made a difference in MY OWN numbers. I don’t know how or why it works, but I have been getting much better readings ever since, many within what is considered to be NORMAL, and my favorite part is that I can eat fruit without a huge spike in my blood sugar afterwards. So far, I have not experienced any weight loss, but am happy with the other results.
Our bodies lack chromium picolinate due to the processed foods we eat these days, thats why our body can’t break down the sugars and I think this is why obesity is higher than it has ever been. Great stuff, if you have not tried it, I suggest you try it for a month or two. It can’t hurt you and if it doesn’t help just throw it away.
The chromium picolinate used in most studies, though well absorbed, may not function well in everyone. A study at Ohio State University is now comparing chromium picolinate with a newer product. If any of you have type 2 diabetes, don’t get insulin injections, don’t currently take a lot of chromium, and can get to OSU twice in the next couple of months, consider being in the study. Subjects are paid $150. For more info, email chromium@pharmacy.ohio-state.edu