Chromium is an essential trace element required for normal carbohydrate metabolism. Chromium increases insulin binding, the number of insulin binding receptors, and insulin sensitivity (Anderson 1997; Vincent 2000).

Human studies show that chromium picolinate decreases insulin levels and improves glucose disposal in obese and type 2 diabetics ( Anderson et al 1997; Bahadori et al 1999; Ghosh et al 2002). Chromium picolinate was evaluated for treatment of insulin resistance syndrome in obese rats. Oral chromium picolinate improved carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and enhanced skeletal muscle glucose transport in the obese rats (Cefalu et al 2002). In infant rats, elevated doses of chromium picolinate increased muscle mass by stimulating protein anabolism (muscle building) (Bernao et al 2004). In growing pigs, plasma glucose concentrations in chromium-supplemented pigs were lower before feeding, suggesting increased insulin sensitivity (Van de Ligt et al 2002).

Chromium polynicotinate (600 mcg daily for two months) given to modestly dieting and exercising African-American women caused a significant loss of fat and sparing of muscle compared with placebo (Crawford et al 1999). A formula including chromium polynicotinate reduced appetite, inhibited fat synthesis, and decreased body weight in 60 moderately obese subjects in an eight-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (Preuss et al 2004). Another double blind, four-week trial with a formula including chromium increased the rate of body fat loss and helped to maintain muscle mass (Hoeger et al 1998).

Always take antioxidants when taking chromium to protect against any oxidative reactions that might occur in response to chromium (Hendler et al 2001).