In the scientific community, there is a rapidly growing recognition of the importance of chromium to good health. In particular, the link between chromium and insulin health has become increasingly significant in metabolic research. As scientists have begun to understand the role of insulin in many of the body’s major functions, they have turned to chromium, a co-factor of insulin, to help improve insulin parameters.

The compound of chromium picolinate holds significant promise in addressing insulin resistance, predominantly due to its stability and high bioavailability. In fact, a USDA study on chromium absorption, found that chromium picolinate was better absorbed, than other popular chromium formulations, including chromium chloride and chromium nicotinate.  More recent research out of Ohio State University has validated these findings.

Chromium picolinate is also one of the most well-researched forms of chromium available. More than a decade of research, led by leading scientists at respected hospitals, universities, and research centers, has demonstrated the quality, safety, and effectiveness of chromium picolinate. Chromium picolinate has been studied in preclinical models and tested in over 50 clinical studies involving over 3,000 participants.

Here are a number of key, representative studies in this area using chromium picolinate.

Chromium picolinate is the subject of 16 studies that include approximately 1,600 patients. Information from the studies is provided; click to read the study abstract in PDF format.
Chromium picolinate does not produce chromosome damage in CHO cells.

Effects of chronic chromium picolinate treatment in uninephrectomized rat

Lack of mutagenicity of chromium picolinate in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene mutation assay in Chinese hamster ovary cells

Gene Expression Analysis of Human Skeletal Muscle: Novel Genes Potentially Involved in Chromium-Enha... - ADA 2003

Changes in Plasma Membrane Architecture as a Basis for Chromium-Activated GLUT4 Translocation - ADA 2003

Chromium Picolinate Enhances Tyrosine Kinase Gene Expression in Human Skeletal Muscle Cells from Sub... - ADA 2005

A Novel Cholesterol-Dependent Mechanism for Chromium's Role in Enhancing Insulin Action and Glu...- ADA 2005

Safety of Chromium Picolinate-Abstract NNFA

Antimutagenic Activity of Chromium Picolinate - World Congress on Pharmacologyy, XIV 2002

Chromium Picolinate Safety Markers study in Humans Campbell - FASEB 2003

Evaluation of the genotoxicty and potential - Slesinski - CDC 2004

Lack of Mutagenicity of Cr Pic at Standard Tests and 48 hr Exposure - EMS 2004

CrPic does not produce chromosomal aberrations abstract - EMS 2004

Evaluation of safety in a clinical trial studying the effects of CP on Atypical depression - ACT 2005

CP and PCOS Lydic presentation - Lydic - ASRM 2003

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/features/i158_2.shtml

Glucose Uptake in HSMC CP , CN, Niacin_Komorowski - FASEB 2003

Anderson et al Stability and Absorption of Chromium forms abstract # - ISTERH 2003

18th Congress Chromium Picolinate and AKT Phosphorylation_Cefalu - IDF 2003

Chromium Picolinate and Gene Expression_ Wang abstract - IDF 2003

Evaluation of different forms of chromium absorption and stability abstract - FASEB 2003

Comparison of acute absorption of various types of chromium supplement complexes_DiSilvestro - FASEB 2005

Glycemic Function and Insulin Resistence. Since 1965, nearly 370 studies have examined the role of chromium in diabetes and insulin resistance. By 1998, more than 3-dozen studies had reported on the effects of chromium supplementation.
From a review by Richard A. Anderson, Ph.D.: “Essentially all of the studies employing the more bio-available chromium picolinate have reported positive effects, while there have been varying effects when other forms of chromium have been used.” Improvements in glucose, insulin and blood fats have also been shown, with increased effectiveness corresponding directly to increasing dosage.

Chromium Picolinate Enhances Skeletal Muscle Cellular Insulin Signaling In Vivo in Obese, Insulin-Resistant JCR:LA-cp Rats

Metabolic Syndrome - Future - AOCS 2005

Chromium in the management of Insulin sensitivity abstract - TEMA 11 2001

18th Congress Chromium picolinate and diabetes Houweling - IDF 2003

Free Fatty Acids and Insulin Resistance - AOCS 2003

Chromium An adjuvant therapy for Insulin Resistance - World Nutra 2003

Chromium and Insulin Resistance Review - FASEB 2004

Cardiovascular Health.  In studies dating back as far as 1966, scientists have consistently demonstrated the effects of chromium on blood-fat metabolism in humans; and according to a 2002 scientific presentation by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health, “functional chromium deficiency in people with cardiovascular disease may be directly related to a relative lack of chromium in the diet.”

Is chromium needed for CVD abstract – FASEB 2002