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 from starch-filled capsules, found that chromium picolinate was absorbed, whereas other popular chromium formulations, including chromium chloride and chromium nicotinate were not.

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. In total, chromium picolinate has been tested in over 35 clinical studies involving over 2,000 participants.

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

Insulin Resistance & Diabetes

1999

• William T. Cefalu, Audrey D. Bell-Farrow, Jane Stegner, Zhong Q. Wang, Telle King, Tim Morgan and James G. Terry. “Effect of chromium picolinate on insulin sensitivity in vivo,” Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine 12:17-83, 1999.

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of chromium picolinate (CP) in 29 people at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, participants were given either 1,000 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP), or placebo, for eight months. The patients who received the chromium supplements showed a significant improvement (increase) in insulin sensitivity at four months and at eight months. These benefits were seen in the absence of significant changes in body fat distribution, suggesting that CP can beneficially affect insulin sensitivity independent of changes in weight or body fat percentage, thereby implying a direct influence on muscle insulin action. This study indicates that CP supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity in individuals who are clinically obese and pre-diabetic.

• Lois Jovanovic-Peterson, MD, FACN, Mario Gutierrez and Charles M. Peterson, MD. “Chromium supplementation for women with gestational diabetes mellitus,” Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine 12:17-83, 1999.

• Richard A . Anderson, PhD. “Chromium, glucose intolerance and diabetes,” Journal of the American College of Nutrition 17(6):548-555, 1998.

In this landmark review, over 30 years of studies using chromium for type 2 diabetes were analyzed by the USDA’s Richard A. Anderson. “Chromium picolinate has been shown to be more effective than other types of chromium in improving the variables associated with diabetes,” wrote Anderson, “with more improvements occurring at higher doses.” Overall, the chromium studies showed improvements in glucose and cholesterol levels in people receiving 200 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate, “with a better response at 1,000 mcg daily. Anderson concluded that, “The benefits of chromium supplementation seem to be related to the form and amount of chromium, with many studies demonstrating the positive effects of chromium supplementation in individuals with type 2 diabetes in a dose-dependent fashion.”

• Richard Anderson, Nanzheng Cheng, Noella A. Bryden, Marilyn M. Polansky, Nanping Cheng, Jiaming Chi and Jinguang Feng. “Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improves glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes,” Diabetes 46:1786-1791, 1997.

One hundred eighty (180) people being treated for type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into three groups and supplemented with: (1) 200 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate a day [CP], (2) 1000 mcg of CP a day, or (3) a placebo. Supplemental chromium was shown to have dramatic effects on glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Significant, sustained reductions in diabetic symptoms were especially noted in those who received 1,000 mcg a day daily of CP.

1989.

• Gary W. Evans. “The effect of chromium picolinate on insulin controlled parameters in humans,” International Journal of Biosocial Medical Research 11(2):163-180, 1989.

In four separate studies, the author looked at chromium picolinate’s effects on insulin. In the first study, a double-blind crossover trial, 200 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP) were given to 14 hypercholesterolemic patients for six weeks. Total cholesterol, LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol and its transport protein, apolipoprotein B, were significantly decreased while levels of HDL (or “good”) cholesterol and its transport protein, apolipoprotein A, were beneficially raised. In the second study, which was conducted with “adult onset, noninsulin-dependent” people with diabetes, the supplemented participants received 200 mcg a day of CP; the results of this study showed a significant drop in blood sugar levels--an average of 32 mg/dL (or 18 percent) and in LDL (or “bad” cholesterol), which decreased by 8 mg/dL (or eight percent). In the other two studies, Evans looked at 200 mcg of CP per day in healthy people who engaged in regular weightlifting. In both studies, the participants increased lean body mass; in one of these two studies, there was also decreased body fat. Overall, in six weeks of chromium picolinate supplementation over 80 percent of the subjects responded positively to the supplementation.


Cardiovascular Health

1999.

• Gilbert R. Kaats, PhD, Samuel C. Keith, John A. Wise, PhD, Dennis Pullin, MS, and William G. Squires, Jr., PhD. “Effects of baseline total cholesterol levels on diet and exercise interventions,” Journal of the American Nutraceutical Association 2(1):42-49, 1999.

The authors conducted two concomitant studies that examined the effects of a behavior modification plan (BMP) that included the use of nutritional supplements (one group received 400 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate [CP]) and which collected pre- and post-study serum cholesterol measurements. The results from the CP-supplemented group indicate that “chromium picolinate can facilitate reductions in triglycerides (TC) and LDL serum cholesterol,” especially in people whose baseline TC levels were above 200 mg/dL.

1990.

• Raymond I. Press, MD, Jack Geller, MD, and Gary Evans, PhD. “The effect of chromium picolinate on serum cholesterol and apolipoprotein fractions in human subjects,” The Western Journal of Medicine 152:41-45, 1990.

• Gilbert R. Kaats, Kenneth Blum, Dennis Pullin, Samuel C. Keith and Robert Wood. “A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a replication and extension of a previous study,” Current Therapeutic Research 59(6):379-388, 1998.

Clinically obese participants received either 400 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP) or a placebo for three months, during which time physical activity and calorie logs were maintained. The supplemented subjects lost significantly more body weight and fat mass than did the placebo group. Since this trial used a very sensitive measure of body composition via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in conjunction with diet and exercise monitoring, this study validates earlier findings that supplementation with CP leads to improvements in lean body mass.

1996.

• Gilbert R. Kaats, Kenneth Blum, Jeffrey A. Fisher and Jack A. Adelman. “Effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study,” Current Therapeutic Research 57(10):747-456, 1996.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 154 patients who received 200 or 400 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP) or placebo for 72 days, both doses of CP produced significant gains in lean body mass and decreases in body fat compared to people receiving a placebo. Overall, supplementation with CP led to significant improvements in body composition.