Chromium
Chromium is a trace mineral found in small amounts in foods such as whole grains, meat and broccoli. It is mostly studied for blood sugar.
Does it help blood sugar?
A 2007 review included 41 trials, nearly half of poor quality. In type 2 diabetes, average HbA1c fell by 0.6 percentage points; people without diabetes showed no benefit. Larger effects were more common in poorer studies. 1
The results suggest a possible effect in diabetes but do not establish dependable treatment benefits. 1
How much weight was lost?
A 2019 meta-analysis of 21 trials involving 1,316 people with overweight or obesity found an average difference of 0.75 kg favoring chromium. The authors considered its clinical relevance uncertain. 2
A small average weight change is not evidence of a reliable weight-loss treatment. 2
Is this a consistent finding?
An earlier review found only 0.50 kg greater weight loss than placebo, with considerable differences between trials. It also questioned whether the result mattered clinically. 3
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Weight Management3 effects
Cardiovascular1 effect
Stress & Mood1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
All studies
11 publications are linked to Chromium, newest first.
Sources
- Effect of chromium supplementation on glucose metabolism and lipids: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials DARE / University of York, 2007