Elsevier

Nutrition

Volume 23, Issue 3, March 2007, Pages 187-195
Nutrition

Applied nutritional investigation
Chromium picolinate supplementation in women: effects on body weight, composition, and iron status

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2006.12.001Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

This study tested the hypothesis that supplementation of chromium picolinate (CrPic), 200 μg Cr/d, compared with an equivalent amount of picolinic acid (1720 μg) in CrPic and placebo, decreases body weight, alters body composition, and reduces iron status of women fed diets of constant energy and nutrients.

Methods

We fed 83 women nutritionally balanced diets, used anthropometry and dual x-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition, and measured serum and urinary Cr and biochemical indicators of iron status before and serially every 4 wk for 12 wk in a double-blind, randomized trial.

Results

CrPic supplementation increased (P < 0.0001) serum Cr concentration and urinary Cr excretion compared with picolinic acid and placebo. CrPic did not affect body weight or fat, although all groups lost (P < 0.05) weight and fat; it did not affect fat-free, mineral-free mass or measurements of iron status.

Conclusion

Under conditions of controlled energy intake, CrPic supplementation of women did not independently influence body weight or composition or iron status. Thus, claims that supplementation of 200 μg of Cr as CrPic promotes weight loss and body composition changes are not supported.

Introduction

Rapidly increasing rates of overweight and obesity in the United States [1] have prompted individuals to seek weight-control products that are safe, convenient, and effective in promoting weight and fat loss and preserve muscle. The public seeks these products, principally dietary supplements [2], [3], because they are perceived as less demanding to use than accepted lifestyle changes, diet, and physical activity in facilitating weight reduction or regulation [4]. Results from multistate and national surveys indicate that use of over-the-counter weight loss supplements is high (∼10%), with the greatest use among young obese women [5], [6].

Different dietary supplements are marketed for weight regulation including vitamins, minerals, and herbal and botanical compounds. Reviews of efficacy and safety of over-the-counter dietary supplements emphasize inconsistent evidence to support claims of weight reduction [2], [3], [4]. A popular dietary supplement marketed for weight regulation is trivalent chromium, specifically chromium picolinate [7]. Although other chromium-containing supplements are available, chromium picolinate is emphasized because of its high bioavailability and lack of toxicity [8]. Early reports that adults supplemented with chromium picolinate lost weight and body fat have not been confirmed [8], [9]. Differences in experimental designs, including uncontrolled food and nutrient intakes and insensitive methods of assessment of body composition, complicate interpretation of the findings.

Chromium picolinate supplements may not be innocuous. Because chromium inhibits iron binding to transferrin [10], [11], large intakes of chromium can impair iron transport and utilization [12]. In addition, picolinic acid is a potent metal-binding ligand with strong capacity to bind iron and other essential mineral elements [13]. Evidence of adverse effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on iron status of humans is contradictory [14], [15].

This study examined the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body weight and composition and on blood biochemical indicators of iron nutritional status in women fed constant energy and nutrient composition diets. It tested the hypothesis that chromium supplementation decreases body weight, fat mass, measurements of iron status in women.

Section snippets

Subjects

Eighty-three premenopausal women, 19 to 50 y of age with a body mass index range of 18 to 30 kg/m2, completed all aspects of the study. Each volunteer completed a health questionnaire and had an interview with a nurse, screening blood assessment of health, urinalysis, measurement of body weight and standing height, and blood pressure to determine absence of anemia and no underlying health concerns. This study was approved by the University of North Dakota institutional review board and the U.S.

Compliance

The volunteers consumed all capsules provided at breakfast at the center. They reported ingestion of all capsules provided for consumption away from the center.

Anthropometry and body composition

Age of the women at entry into the study was not different (33.0 ± 1.8, 30.7 ± 1.7, and 30.2 ± 1.5 y in the placebo, chromium picolinate, and picolinate supplemented groups, respectively). Similarly, the standing height was similar across groups (162.7 ± 1.0, 166.2 ± 1.0, and 165.7 ± 1.0 cm in the placebo, chromium picolinate, and

Discussion

Chromium is provisionally considered to be a nutrient because of its putative roles in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism [25]; evidence indicates that chromium apparently facilitates the action of insulin [26]. Thus, chromium supplementation has been postulated to selectively decrease body fat and increase muscle or lean body mass [27]. Research to test this hypothesis has predominantly used chromium picolinate because it is better absorbed than other chemical forms of chromium and

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the women who committed to meet the requirements of this study, S. K. Gallagher who supervised biochemical and mineral analyses, and Nutrition-21, which provided the supplements at no cost.

References (55)

  • R.A. Anderson et al.

    Chromium intake, absorption and excretion in subjects consuming self-selected diets

    Am J Clin Nutr

    (1985)
  • A.A. Hedley et al.

    Prevalence of overweight and obesity among US children, adolescents, and adults, 1999–2002

    JAMA

    (2004)
  • J.T. Dwyer et al.

    Dietary supplements in weight reduction

    J Am Diet Assoc

    (2005)
  • M.C. Nachtigal et al.

    Dietary supplements and weight control in a middle-age population

    J Altern Complement Med

    (2005)
  • R.B. Saper et al.

    Common dietary supplements for weight loss

    Am Fam Phys

    (2004)
  • H.M. Blanck et al.

    Use of nonprescription weight loss products: results of a multistate survey

    JAMA

    (2001)
  • Schatzman D. Slim pickings? The ephedra ban may have a positive impact on the market after all. Nutritional Outlook;...
  • H.C. Lukaski

    Chromium as a supplement

    Annu Rev Nutr

    (1999)
  • J.B. Vincent

    The potential value and toxicity of chromium picolinate as a nutritional supplement, weight loss agent and muscle development agent

    Sports Med

    (2003)
  • M. Ani et al.

    The effect of chromium on parameters related to iron metabolism

    Biol Trace Elem Res

    (1992)
  • G.W. Evans

    The role of picolinic acid in metal metabolism

    Life Chem Rep

    (1982)
  • K. Rosenbaum et al.

    Time-dependent variation in weight and body composition in healthy adults

    JPEN

    (2000)
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Data tables: results from USDA’s 1994–96 continuing...
  • J.A. Harris et al.

    A biometric study of basal metabolism in men. Carnegie publication 279

    (1919)
  • C. Veillon et al.

    Chromium in urine as measured by atomic absorption spectrometry

    Clin Chem

    (1982)
  • R.A. Anderson et al.

    Serum chromium of human subjects: effects of chromium supplementation and glucose

    Am J Clin Nutr

    (1985)
  • Cited by (67)

    • Assessment of chromium species dynamics in root solutions using isotope tracers

      2020, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
    • The effects of supplementation with L-arginine on anthropometric indices and body composition in overweight or obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis

      2020, Journal of Functional Foods
      Citation Excerpt :

      Epidemiological studies show that the worldwide prevalence and disease burden of overweight and obesity are increasing in both sexes and in the most parts of the world so it highlights the necessity of implementing different strategies for preventing and/or treating these health challenges (Piché et al., 2018; Abarca-Gómez et al., 2017). Different weight management strategies including healthy lifestyle choices (Elena et al., 2016; Van Rinsum et al., 2018; Burini et al., 2017), increasing physical activity levels (Hankinson et al., 2010; Waller et al., 2008; Piirtola et al., 2017; , xxxx) and anti-obesity drugs (Torgerson et al., 2004; Smith et al., 2011; Smith et al., 2010; Pi-Sunyer et al., 2015; Davies et al., 2015; Mogul et al., 2016) and supplements (Icken et al., 2016; Nordestgaard and Nordestgaard, 2016; Zheng et al., 2017; Pokhis et al., 2015; Lukaski et al., 2007; Mattes and Bormann, 2000; Lopez et al., 2013) have been introduced. There are a wide range of weight loss medications such as Phentermine, Orlistat, Lorcasarin, Liraglutide, Diethylpropion, Zonisamide and Topiramate with the greater weight loss effects than lifestyle changes do alone (Bessesen and Van Gaal, 2018; Kang and Park, 2012).

    • The combined effect of supplementary Cr(III) propionate complex and iron deficiency on the chromium and iron status in female rats

      2018, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Research on humans showed that Cr supplementation at doses of 200–1000 μg day−1 did not influence Fe metabolism in healthy men and women [43,44]. Lukaski et al. [43] did not observe any changes in haemoglobin, haematocrit, serum Fe content, TIBC or transferrin saturation in premenopausal women supplemented with Cr(Pic)3 at a dose of 200 μg Cr day−1. Similarly, the 3-month supplementation of males aged 60–70 years with Cr(Pic)3 (924 μg of Cr day−1) had no effect on the Fe status [44].

    • Effect of chromium supplementation on the glucose homeostasis and anthropometry of type 2 diabetic patients: Double blind, randomized clinical trial. Chromium, glucose homeostasis and anthropometry

      2016, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Studies with diabetic subjects also found no effect on body weight and body fat distribution from using 1000 μg of chromium picolinate after 24 weeks of intervention [28]; on waist circumference and BMI using 800 μg of chromium picolinate after three months of intervention [29]; on BMI and body fat with 400 μg of chromium yeast after 6 months of intervention [30]; or on BMI with 42 μg chromium (brewer's yeast) after 3 months of intervention [31]. Studies in nondiabetic subjects also found no effects from use of chromium on body weight [27,32,33], BMI [34], body fat percentage [27,34] and waist circumference [32]. Still, there are reports of chromium effect on the improvement of anthropometry in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Mention of a trademark or proprietary product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that also may be suitable. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research, Northern Plains Area is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and all agency services are available without discrimination.

    View full text