A pilot study of chromium picolinate for weight loss.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chromium is an essential trace element and nutritional supplement that has garnered interest for use as a weight loss aid.

OBJECTIVE:

This trial assesses the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation, alone and combined with nutritional education, on weight loss in apparently healthy overweight adults.

DESIGN:

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 80 otherwise healthy, overweight adults assessed at baseline for central adiposity measured by computerized tomography. Subjects were randomly assigned to daily ingestion of 1000 microg of chromium picolinate or placebo for 24 weeks. All subjects received passive nutritional education at the 12-week point in both the intervention and control groups. Outcomes include weight, height, blood pressure, percent body fat, serum, and urinary biomarkers.

RESULTS:

At baseline, both the chromium and placebo groups had similar mean body mass index (BMI) (chromium = 36 +/- 6.7 kg/m(2) versus placebo = 36.1 +/- 7.6 kg/m(2); p = 0.98). After 12 weeks, no change was seen in BMI in the intervention as compared to placebo (chromium = 0.3 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2) versus placebo = 0.0 +/- 0.4 kg/m(2); p = 0.07). No change was seen in BMI after 24 weeks in the intervention as compared to placebo (chromium = 0.1 +/- 0.2 kg/m(2) versus placebo = 0.0 +/- 0.5 kg/m(2); p = 0.81). Variation in central adiposity did not affect any outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS:

Supplementation of 1000 microg of chromium picolinate alone, and in combination with nutritional education, did not affect weight loss in this population of overweight adults. Response to chromium did not vary with central adiposity.

• Authors: Yuka Yazaki, Zubaida Faridi, Yingying Ma, Ather Ali, Veronika Northrup, Valentine Yanchou Njike, Lauren Liberti, David L Katz
• Journal: Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) (J Altern Complement Med) Vol. 16 Issue 3 Pg. 291-9 (Mar 2010) ISSN: 1557-7708 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20192914 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Picolinic Acids

Topics

• Adult
• Appetite (drug effects)
• Body Mass Index
• Dietary Supplements
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Obesity (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Overweight (drug therapy)
• Patient Compliance
• Patient Education as Topic (methods)
• Picolinic Acids (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome
• Weight Loss (drug effects)
• Young Adult