Evidence supporting the use of: Chromium
For the health condition: Metabolic Syndrome

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Chromium, particularly in the form of chromium picolinate, is often marketed as a supplement to help manage Metabolic Syndrome, primarily because of its proposed effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. The rationale stems from the role of chromium as an essential trace element involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and its purported enhancement of insulin action. Some small clinical trials and animal studies have suggested that chromium supplementation can modestly improve glycemic control, reduce fasting blood glucose, and perhaps improve lipid profiles in individuals with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, which are core components of Metabolic Syndrome.

However, systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have generally found that the effect size is small and often not clinically significant, particularly in populations without frank diabetes. While a few studies report improvements in markers such as HbA1c, fasting glucose, or triglycerides, others find no meaningful benefit over placebo. Moreover, the studies are often heterogeneous in design, chromium dose, duration, and populations studied, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Leading medical organizations do not currently recommend chromium supplementation for Metabolic Syndrome due to insufficient and inconsistent evidence.

In summary, while there is a scientific rationale and limited clinical evidence suggesting potential benefit, the overall quality and consistency of evidence is low, justifying a rating of 2 out of 5.

More about chromium
More about Metabolic Syndrome

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7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR)
7-Keto-DHEA
Acai berry
Akkermansia muciniphila
algal oil
alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
anchovies
anthocyanins
asparagus
bacillus subtilis
banaba
barley
berberine
beta-glucan
beta-sitosterol
Bifidobacterium longum
bitter melon
black garlic
blueberry
Brussel sprouts
butyrate triglyceride
campesterol
camu camu
canola oil
caterpillar mushroom
chia seed
chokeberry
chromium
cinnamon
conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)
turmeric
curcumin
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
fisetin
flaxseed
fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
ginger
glucomannan
guar gum
hydroxycitric acid
inulin
krill oil
l-carnitine
Lactobacillus helveticus
licorice root
maitake mushroom
maqui berry
Matcha
medium chain triglycerides (MCT)
Moringa
Naringin
nicotinamide riboside
oleanolic acid
oleic acid
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
omega-7 fatty acids
omega-9 fatty acids
oyster mushroom
palmitoleic acid
quinoa
red yeast rice
reishi mushroom
resveratrol
rye
spirulina
tocotrienols
Trans-pterostilbene
Urolithin A
Vanadium
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vitamin C
vitamin D
wheat grass
Whey protein
xylooligosaccharides
Zinc
β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)
Algae
kidney beans
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
1-deoxynojirimycin
15,16-Dihydrotanshinone I
12-methylcarnosic acid
3-desoxy-7-KETO-DHEA
4-hydroxyisoleucine
5,7-Dimethoxyflavone
6-Paradol
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apigenin
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antirrhinin
avocado
Ascophyllum nodosum
Acacetin
alpha-lipoic acid
astragaloside
anthocyanidins
ampelopsin
Alpha phytosterol
Algal protein
arabinoxylan
Alpha methyl tetradecylthioacetic acid
Arjunolic acid
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
beta-hydroxybutyrate
Blakeslea trispora
bean
betanin
Brazil nut
charantin
California chia
cardarine
cyanobacteria
capsinoids
cyanidin
chlorogenic acid
capsiate
Chitin-Glucan Complex
Calanus finmarchicus
crocetin
cynaropicrin
Cystoseira canariensis
corosolic acid
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dihydrolipoic acid
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diosgenin
ergothioneine
evodiamine
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fucosterol
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fucoxanthin
flavanols
fructan
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galactooligosaccharides
guanidinopropionic acid (GPA )
Guggulsterones
Glucoraphanin
garbanzo bean
Glucosinolates
hydroxytyrosol
isomaltulose
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lipstatin
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lupin
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Maslinic acid
mangiferin
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Monounsaturated fat
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phlorizin
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polychitosamine
polysaccharides
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punicalin
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punicalagins
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punicic acid
peanut
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Tagatose
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Thylakoid
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