Home Ingredients Chromax® (Chromium Picolinate — Nutrition 21)
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Chromax® (Chromium Picolinate — Nutrition 21)

Evidence Level
Moderate
3 Clinical Trials
3 Documented Benefits
3/5 Evidence Score

Chromax® is Nutrition 21's branded chromium picolinate: trivalent chromium bound to picolinic acid. Chromium is a trace mineral that may help insulin act on cells, though the exact mechanism has not been pinned down. In one 8-week trial that used Chromax at 1,000 mcg/day, 42 overweight women who crave carbohydrates ate less, felt less hungry and had fewer fat cravings than on placebo. For body weight, pooled trials of chromium picolinate show about 0.5 to 1.1 kg more weight loss than placebo, which reviewers rated as low-quality evidence of debatable or uncertain clinical relevance. In people with diabetes under medical care, pooled trials found lower HbA1c and fasting glucose. Chromium is not a treatment for diabetes, and anyone on diabetes medication should talk to a doctor first.

Studied Dose Trials used 200 to 1,000 mcg of chromium a day; the Chromax appetite trial used 1,000 mcg/day for 8 weeks. The adequate intake from food is 20 to 35 mcg/day for adults, so these doses are far above dietary levels.
Active Compound Chromium picolinate (trivalent chromium chelated to picolinic acid).

Benefits

Insulin sensitivity and glycemic control

In a meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials in people with diabetes, chromium lowered HbA1c by about 0.55 percent and fasting glucose by about 1.15 mmol/L. A 6-month trial in 29 people with type 2 diabetes on a sulfonylurea found better insulin sensitivity with 1,000 mcg/day. These are people under medical care, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements calls the clinical significance of such changes unclear.

Supported by Trial 2, Trial 3

Appetite and carbohydrate cravings

In a randomized, double-blind trial, 42 overweight women who reported carbohydrate cravings took Chromax (1,000 mcg chromium a day) or placebo for 8 weeks. Chromium reduced measured food intake, hunger and fat cravings; the drop in body weight did not reach significance (p = 0.08). This is a single small trial in women only.

Supported by Trial 1

Body weight in overweight adults

Pooled trials of chromium picolinate found about 1.1 kg more weight loss than placebo over 12 to 16 weeks; the authors called it of debatable clinical relevance and largely dependent on one trial, and a Cochrane review rated it low-quality evidence. A broader analysis of chromium found 0.5 kg, with uncertain clinical relevance.

Supported by Trial 3

Mechanism of action

1

Proposed chromodulin model

Researchers have proposed that chromium binds a small peptide to form chromodulin, which binds to and activates the insulin receptor to promote insulin action. The exact mechanism has not been identified, and none of the human trials cited here measured it. Picolinic acid is the carrier the chromium is bound to in this form.

Clinical trials

1
Chromax and appetite in women who crave carbohydrates
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: 1,000 mcg chromium a day as chromium picolinate (Chromax) or placebo for 8 weeks, with food intake measured directly at meals (Anton et al. 2008, Diabetes Technol Ther)

42 overweight adult women who reported carbohydrate cravings.

Chromium reduced food intake, hunger and fat cravings compared with placebo, and body weight tended to fall (p = 0.08, not significant). The same paper reports rat experiments, which are not human evidence.

2
Chromium picolinate with a sulfonylurea in type 2 diabetes
PubMed

Randomized, double-blind trial: after a 3-month placebo run-in on glipizide, 1,000 mcg chromium a day as chromium picolinate or placebo for 6 months (Martin et al. 2006, Diabetes Care)

37 adults with type 2 diabetes evaluated; 29 randomized (17 chromium, 12 placebo).

The placebo group gained 2.2 kg and 1.17 percent body fat, while the 0.9 kg gain in the chromium group was not significant. Chromium improved insulin sensitivity and lowered glycated hemoglobin by 1.16 percent from baseline. It is a small trial in people on diabetes medication.

3
Chromium picolinate for overweight or obese adults (Cochrane review)
PubMed

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials with follow-up up to 24 weeks (Tian et al. 2013, Cochrane Database Syst Rev)

622 adults with overweight or obesity; 392 in the pooled body weight analysis of 6 trials.

Across doses of 200 to 1,000 mcg, chromium picolinate reduced body weight by 1.1 kg more than placebo (95% CI 0.4 to 1.7) after 12 to 16 weeks, rated low-quality evidence of debatable clinical relevance. No dose effect was found, and the authors found no reliable evidence to guide decisions on efficacy and safety.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Usually well tolerated in trials; reported adverse events include watery stools, vertigo, headaches and hives.
Isolated case reports link chromium supplements to kidney failure, liver problems, anemia, low platelets, muscle breakdown, skin reactions and low blood sugar. People with kidney or liver disease may be more susceptible and should talk to a doctor before taking high doses.
No upper limit has been set for chromium, but the adequate intake from food is only 20 to 35 mcg a day for adults, far below the 200 to 1,000 mcg used in trials.

Important Drug interactions

Insulin and oral diabetes medicines: chromium can affect blood sugar and may add to their effect. Anyone taking insulin or oral diabetes medication should speak with their doctor before adding chromium.
Levothyroxine: in a small study, taking chromium picolinate at the same time as levothyroxine reduced levothyroxine absorption, so ask a doctor or pharmacist about spacing the doses.

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Frequently asked questions about Chromax® (Chromium Picolinate — Nutrition 21)

What is Chromax?

Chromax® is Nutrition 21's branded chromium picolinate: trivalent chromium bound to picolinic acid. Chromium is a trace mineral that may help insulin act on cells, though the exact mechanism has not been pinned down.

What is Chromax used for?

Chromax is researched primarily for Metabolic Health, Weight Management, and GLP-1 Support. In a meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials in people with diabetes, chromium lowered HbA1c by about 0.55 percent and fasting glucose by about 1.15 mmol/L.

What is the recommended dosage of Chromax?

The clinically studied dose is Trials used 200 to 1,000 mcg of chromium a day; the Chromax appetite trial used 1,000 mcg/day for 8 weeks. The adequate intake from food is 20 to 35 mcg/day for adults, so these doses are far above dietary levels. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Chromax safe, and does it have side effects?

Side effects and cautions reported for Chromax include: Usually well tolerated in trials; reported adverse events include watery stools, vertigo, headaches and hives. Isolated case reports link chromium supplements to kidney failure, liver problems, anemia, low platelets, muscle breakdown, skin reactions and low blood sugar. It may also interact with some medications. Chromax is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Chromax interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Insulin and oral diabetes medicines: chromium can affect blood sugar and may add to their effect. Anyone taking insulin or oral diabetes medication should speak with their doctor before adding chromium. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Chromax?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Chromax as Moderate (3 out of 5). It is backed by 3 study summaries and 8 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(8 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Anton SD, Morrison CD, Cefalu WT, Martin CK, Coulon S, Geiselman P, Han H, White CL, Williamson DA. Effects of chromium picolinate on food intake and satiety. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2008;10(5):405-12. doi: 10.1089/dia.2007.0292.PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 42 overweight women with carbohydrate cravings: 1,000 mcg chromium a day as chromium picolinate (Chromax, per trade reports) for 8 weeks reduced food intake, hunger and fat cravings, and body weight tended to fall (p = 0.08). Small, short and women-only.
  2. Suksomboon N, Poolsup N, Yuwanakorn A. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of chromium supplementation in diabetes. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2014;39(3):292-306. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12147.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials in people with diabetes: chromium supplementation lowered HbA1c by 0.55 percent (95% CI 0.22 to 0.88) and fasting glucose by 1.15 mmol/L, with effects seen especially with chromium picolinate, and adverse events did not differ from placebo. The authors said long-term benefit and safety need further study.
  3. Pittler MH, Stevinson C, Ernst E. Chromium picolinate for reducing body weight: meta-analysis of randomized trials. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003;27(4):522-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802262.PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of 10 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials (489 people): chromium picolinate reduced body weight by 1.1 kg more than placebo (95% CI 0.4 to 1.8), but the effect depended largely on a single trial; the authors called the clinical relevance debatable.
  4. Martin J, Wang ZQ, Zhang XH, Wachtel D, Volaufova J, Matthews DE, Cefalu WT. Chromium picolinate supplementation attenuates body weight gain and increases insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(8):1826-32. doi: 10.2337/dc06-0254.PubMedUsed to support: In 29 people with type 2 diabetes on a sulfonylurea, 1,000 mcg chromium a day as chromium picolinate for 6 months improved insulin sensitivity and glycated hemoglobin and limited weight and body fat gain compared with placebo, which gained 2.2 kg.
  5. Tian H, Guo X, Wang X, He Z, Sun R, Ge S, Zhang Z. Chromium picolinate supplementation for overweight or obese adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(11):CD010063. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010063.pub2.PubMedUsed to support: Cochrane review of 9 randomized trials (622 adults with overweight or obesity): 1.1 kg more weight loss than placebo after 12 to 16 weeks (6 trials, 392 people), low-quality evidence of debatable clinical relevance; no dose effect; no reliable evidence to guide decisions on efficacy and safety.
  6. Onakpoya I, Posadzki P, Ernst E. Chromium supplementation in overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Obes Rev. 2013;14(6):496-507. doi: 10.1111/obr.12026.PubMedUsed to support: Systematic review of 20 randomized trials of chromium in overweight and obesity; a meta-analysis of 11 found 0.50 kg more weight loss than placebo with high heterogeneity, small effect and uncertain clinical relevance. Reported adverse events included watery stools, vertigo, headaches and urticaria.
  7. Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health. Chromium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated June 2, 2022). NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. 2022;Not PubMed-indexed..SourceUsed to support: Official NIH fact sheet. States that chromium might potentiate insulin action through a proposed chromodulin mechanism that has not been identified precisely; that adequate intakes for adults are 20 to 35 mcg/day; that in people with diabetes chromium lowered fasting glucose and HbA1c slightly but the clinical significance is unclear; that pooled trials show chromium reduces body weight and body fat to a very small but statistically significant extent with little clinical significance; that no upper limit was set but people with kidney or liver disease may be more susceptible to harm, and isolated case reports link chromium supplements to kidney failure, liver dysfunction, anemia, thrombocytopenia, rhabdomyolysis, dermatitis and hypoglycemia; and that chromium may add to the effect of insulin and other diabetes medicines and reduced levothyroxine absorption in a small study. Not PubMed-indexed.
  8. NutraIngredients. Chromium picolinate may boost satiety, reduce hunger: Study (October 2, 2008). NutraIngredients. 2008;Not PubMed-indexed..SourceUsed to support: Trade news report on the Anton 2008 trial. States that participants received chromium picolinate at 1,000 micrograms as Chromax from Nutrition 21, and that the research was funded by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Not PubMed-indexed.