MyoVera™ (Two-Form Chromium Blend — Nutrition 21)

Evidence Level
Preliminary
3 Clinical Trials
8 Documented Benefits
1/5 Evidence Score

MyoVera is a patented ingredient from Nutrition 21 that combines two forms of chromium and is sold to be taken alongside protein. No trial of MyoVera itself has been published, so there is no independent evidence of what it does in people. The claim that it beats protein alone comes from the manufacturer, not from a published study. The company points to an earlier ingredient, an amylopectin and chromium complex. The only published human study of that earlier complex enrolled ten people and measured muscle protein synthesis over a few hours in a laboratory, which is not the same as building muscle. Muscle loss with age is real, but nothing published has tested whether MyoVera affects it.

Studied Dose No studied dose exists for MyoVera because no trial of it has been published. For reference, the related amylopectin and chromium complex was tested at 2 grams taken with 6 grams of whey protein in a study of ten adults.
Active Compound Two forms of chromium; the exact forms and amounts are proprietary and not disclosed. The related earlier ingredient is an amylopectin and chromium complex, which is a different product.

Benefits

Short-term muscle protein synthesis (related ingredient, 10 people)

No published trial of MyoVera has tested this. The closest evidence is a study of a related amylopectin and chromium complex in ten adults (6 men, 4 women) who took 6 grams of whey protein with or without 2 grams of the complex. Muscle protein synthesis measured over the following hours was higher when the complex was added (difference between conditions p = 0.045). Muscle protein synthesis over a few hours is a laboratory measurement, not a measured gain in muscle size or strength, and ten people is a very small study.

Enhanced amino acid muscle uptake

This is the proposed mechanism, not a measured result. Chromium is involved in insulin signaling, and insulin helps move amino acids into muscle cells. No published study has measured amino acid uptake in people taking MyoVera.

Age-related muscle loss (not studied)

Adults commonly lose muscle as they age, and staying active with enough protein helps. MyoVera has not been tested in older adults, or in anyone else, in any published study. It has not been shown to prevent, slow, or treat sarcopenia or any other condition, and it has not been shown to maintain strength or performance.

Supports inadequate protein intake populations

Many older adults do fall short on protein, which matters for keeping muscle. Whether MyoVera changes anything for people eating less protein has never been tested. The one small human study of the related amylopectin and chromium complex gave 6 grams of whey protein to ten adults and measured only a few hours of muscle protein synthesis, so it says nothing about people with low protein intake over time.

Evidence base: nothing published on MyoVera

This page cites no studies at all, and no trial of MyoVera appears in the published literature. The claim of two clinical studies comes from the manufacturer's marketing. Without published papers there is no way to check who was studied, at what dose, for how long, or what was actually measured.

Predecessor ingredient research (rat study)

The study behind this claim was done in rats, not people: adding the amylopectin and chromium complex to branched-chain amino acids raised muscle protein synthesis and mTOR signaling compared with the amino acids alone. Animal results do not transfer to humans on their own, and MyoVera is a different product from the complex that was tested. There is no evidence that any of this 'translates' to MyoVera.

Strength and performance (never measured)

No published study has measured muscle size, strength, or physical performance with MyoVera. The single small human study of the related complex measured only short-term muscle protein synthesis in ten people, which does not tell you whether anyone became bigger, stronger, or faster.

Insulin signaling (proposed mechanism only)

Chromium is involved in insulin signaling, and insulin helps push amino acids into muscle cells. The claim that two chromium forms work better together than one has not been tested in any published study, in people or in animals.

Mechanism of action

1

Insulin-mediated amino acid uptake

Chromium plays a role in insulin signaling, and insulin helps drive amino acids into muscle cells. That is the theory behind MyoVera. It has not been confirmed in any published study of the product itself.

2

mTOR pathway activation enhancement

In a study in rats, adding the amylopectin and chromium complex to branched-chain amino acids increased mTOR signaling, a pathway that helps switch on muscle protein synthesis. This was an animal study of a different, earlier ingredient, and it did not measure muscle growth in anyone.

3

Insulin sensitivity (untested for this product)

Chromium has been studied for a role in insulin sensitivity. Whether MyoVera's two chromium forms change insulin sensitivity, and whether that would change anything about muscle, has not been tested in any published study.

4

Muscle protein synthesis amplification

The proposed idea is that MyoVera makes the body's muscle protein synthesis response to protein and exercise larger. No published trial of MyoVera has measured this. In the one human study of the related complex, ten adults showed a higher short-term muscle protein synthesis rate when 2 grams of the complex were added to 6 grams of whey protein.

5

Dual-chromium synergy

Different chromium forms are absorbed differently. The claim that combining two forms works better than one is the manufacturer's rationale for its patent, not a finding from any published head-to-head comparison.

Clinical trials

1
No Published Clinical Trial of MyoVera

No trial of MyoVera has been published. The manufacturer refers to two clinical studies, but no paper, dose, sample size, duration, or result is available for anyone to check.

Unknown. No published paper describes who, if anyone, was studied.

There are no findings to report. These are manufacturer statements, not published results, and 'two-study replication' cannot be verified. The only human data on a related ingredient come from a ten-person crossover study of an amylopectin and chromium complex, which found a higher short-term muscle protein synthesis rate when 2 grams were added to 6 grams of whey protein (between-condition p = 0.045). That study did not test MyoVera and did not measure muscle size or strength.

2
Rat Study: Amylopectin/Chromium Complex Plus BCAAs (Animal Data)

Animal study, not a clinical trial: 24 male rats (8 per group) given exercise alone, exercise plus branched-chain amino acids, or exercise plus those amino acids and the amylopectin/chromium complex. It tested the earlier complex, not MyoVera, and results in rats do not establish anything for people.

24 male rats in three groups. No people took part in this study.

In the rats, adding the amylopectin/chromium complex to branched-chain amino acids raised muscle protein synthesis, insulin, and mTOR signaling compared with the amino acids alone. That is a mechanism result in animals. It does not show that MyoVera, or the complex, builds muscle in people.

3
Background on Muscle Loss With Age (Not a MyoVera Study)

General background reading on age-related muscle loss, including observational research linking muscle mass to health outcomes. Observational links show association, not cause. None of this background tested MyoVera or any chromium product.

General populations in background research. Nobody in it took MyoVera.

These are commonly quoted background figures on muscle loss and protein intake as people age. They describe a general problem and say nothing about MyoVera. No study has shown that MyoVera makes protein more effective, in older adults or in anyone else.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well-tolerated; chromium has long supplement use history.
Mild GI effects rare.
Chromium at typical supplement doses has a long history of use, but MyoVera itself has no published safety data.
No published safety study of MyoVera exists; safety statements about it come from the manufacturer.
Long-term safety of this specific two-form chromium blend has not been studied.
Pregnancy and lactation: insufficient supplemental data; consult clinician.
Newer ingredient with no published human data at all, short term or long term.

Important Drug interactions

Diabetes medications (metformin, sulfonylureas, insulin) — chromium may affect blood sugar control, so talk to your doctor before combining and monitor your blood glucose.
Thyroid medications (levothyroxine) — chromium may affect absorption; separate timing.
NSAIDs — minimal interaction concern.
Antacids — may affect chromium absorption; separate timing.
Other chromium supplements — verify total intake; avoid duplication.
Pregnancy and lactation: consult clinician.
Protein supplements — MyoVera is sold to be taken with protein, but no published trial has shown it adds anything to protein alone.

Frequently asked questions about MyoVera™ (Two-Form Chromium Blend — Nutrition 21)

What is MyoVera?

MyoVera is a patented ingredient from Nutrition 21 that combines two forms of chromium and is sold to be taken alongside protein. No trial of MyoVera itself has been published, so there is no independent evidence of what it does in people.

What is MyoVera used for?

MyoVera is researched primarily for Athletic Performance and Muscle & Recovery. No published trial of MyoVera has tested this. The closest evidence is a study of a related amylopectin and chromium complex in ten adults (6 men, 4 women) who took 6 grams of whey protein with or without 2 grams of the complex.

What is the recommended dosage of MyoVera?

The clinically studied dose is No studied dose exists for MyoVera because no trial of it has been published. For reference, the related amylopectin and chromium complex was tested at 2 grams taken with 6 grams of whey protein in a study of ten adults. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is MyoVera safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, MyoVera is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well-tolerated; chromium has long supplement use history. Mild GI effects rare. It may also interact with some medications. MyoVera 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 MyoVera interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Diabetes medications (metformin, sulfonylureas, insulin) — chromium may affect blood sugar control, so talk to your doctor before combining and monitor your blood glucose. Thyroid medications (levothyroxine) — chromium may affect absorption; separate timing. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for MyoVera?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for MyoVera as Preliminary (1 out of 5). It is backed by 3 clinical trials and 1 cited reference summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(1 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. Ziegenfuss TN, Lopez HL, Kedia A, Habowski SM, Sandrock JE, Raub B, Kerksick CM, Ferrando AA. Effects of an amylopectin and chromium complex on the anabolic response to a suboptimal dose of whey protein. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:6..PubMedUsed to support: Double-blind crossover trial in ten adults of the PREDECESSOR ingredient, an amylopectin-chromium complex, added to 6 g of whey protein; muscle protein synthesis rose in the combined condition. This study did not test Myovera, and no published trial of Myovera itself was found.