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Cr9.0
Chromium Research
Likely helpsHigh safety
25 peer-reviewed studies
What the evidence says
Likely helps
Chromium appears to help in 8 of 11 studies with measurable effects — the evidence leans clearly favourable.
Most evidence is from high-quality meta-analyses and randomised trials published 1978–2026 with a typical study size of 1,200 participants.
Based on 25 studies · 20 meta-analyses · 3 RCTs · 38,994 total participants
Confidence
High
What the studies found
8helped3unclear· 14 more without graded effect data
By outcome
Glucose & metabolicModest improvements in fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity · 6-12 weeks · Enhances insulin signalling and glucose disposal · 4-12 weeks
Likely helps15 studies
Cholesterol & lipids
Mostly mechanism / observational8 studies
Weight managementModest effect on appetite and cravings · 6-12 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
InflammationBetter blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity · 8-16 weeks
Mostly mechanism / observational5 studies
Women's healthSupports healthy estrogen metabolism and hormonal equilibrium · 4-8 weeks · Provides essential nutrients for healthy pregnancy · Ongoing
Mostly mechanism / observational4 studies
Heart & blood pressure
Too few graded studies2 studies
Safety profile
Too few graded studies1 study
By the numbers
Pulled from 21 studies with measurable effects
Likely real effects
67%
across studies
People studied
39k
typical study: 1200 people
Strongest designs
23
20 pooled, 3 randomised
Showed benefit
73%
8/11 studies
Populations Studied
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome3
Type 2 diabetes patients3
Adults with type 2 diabetes1
Humans1
Active research area
20 studies in the last 5 years · Latest meta-analysis: 2025
197820022026
1PCOS symptoms improvementMeta-AnalysisCited 2×n=5,501 · very large study2025
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
Zhao G et al. · Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E (2025)
Inositol significantly decreased total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while curcumin was most effective in improving low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
Chromium, inositol, and Omega-3 were found to be beneficial for improving lipid profile.
For improving obesity, sex hormone levels, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress indicators of PCOS patients, carnitine, chromium, and soy isoflavones are effective options, respectively.
2Fasting blood glucose reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 31×n=14,223 · very large study2023
Low to very low certainty evidence established chromium supplements as the most effective in reducing fasting blood glucose levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (SUCRAs: 90...
Xia J et al. · Pharmacological research (2023)
Low to very low certainty evidence established chromium supplements as the most effective in reducing fasting blood glucose levels and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (SUCRAs: 90.4% and 78.3%, respectively).
Vitamin K supplements ranked best in reducing glycated hemoglobin A1c and fasting insulin levels (SUCRAs: 97.0% and 82.3%, respectively), with moderate to very low certainty evidence.
Vanadium supplements ranked best in lowering total cholesterol levels with very low evidence certainty (SUCRAs:100%).
3Body weight reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 10×n=2,362 · very large study2023
Carnitine was relatively effective in reducing body mass, while chromium, Omega-3, and selenium were beneficial for improving glucose metabolism.
Hu X et al. · PeerJ (2023)
The network meta-analysis showed that carnitine, inositol, and probiotics reduced body weight and body mass index (BMI) compared to placebo, and carnitine outperformed the other supplements (SUCRAs: 96.04%, 97.73%, respectively).
Omega-3 lowered fasting blood glucose (FBG) (SUCRAs: 93.53%), and chromium reduced fasting insulin (FINS) (SUCRAs: 72.90%); both were superior to placebo in improving insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), and chromium was more effective than Omega-3 (SUCRAs: 79.99%).
Selenium was potent in raising the quantitative insulin sensitivity index (QUICKI) (SUCRAs: 87.92%).
4Total cholesterol reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 17×n=7,605 · very large study2021
Our meta-analysis reveals that there was only an overall significant association between chromium supplementation with decreases in the concentration of TC.
Tarrahi MJ et al. · Pharmacological research (2021)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Our results of overall analysis show only a significant reduction in serum TC level in response to chromium supplementation (WMD: -0.17 mmol/l, 95 % CI: -0.27, -0.07, P = 0.001).
Our meta-analysis reveals that there was only an overall significant association between chromium supplementation with decreases in the concentration of TC.
Additionally, we found considerable evidence of subgroup analysis that support a significant lowering effect of chromium supplementation on TC, TG and VLDL.
6Total antioxidant capacityMeta-AnalysisCited 29×n=550 · large study2022
Chromium supplementation may improve OS parameters, however, due to high heterogeneity observed in the included studies, these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Morvaridzadeh M et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (2022)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The obtained results indicate that chromium supplementation significantly increases TAC (SMD: 0.46; 95 % CI: 0.08, 0.84; I2 = 00.0 % n = 2) and significantly decreases MDA levels (SMD: -0.46; 95 % CI: -0.86, -0.07; I2 = 52.4 % n = 5).
Chromium supplementation may improve OS parameters, however, due to high heterogeneity observed in the included studies, these findings should be interpreted with caution.
Large RCTs on various patient groups evaluating the impact of chromium supplementation are needed to allow an adequate generalization of the benefits of chromium on human health.
7Systolic blood pressure reductionSystematic ReviewCited 7×n=637 · large study2021
The current meta-analysis, indicated that supplementation with chromium significantly decrease SBP and DBP.
Lari A et al. · High blood pressure & cardiovascular prevention : the official journal of the Italian Society of Hypertension (2021)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
The random-effects meta-analysis of 11 eligible RCTs with 637 participants demonstrated the significant decline in both SBP (WMD - 2.51 mmHg; 95% CI - 4.97 to - 0.05, p = 0.04) and DBP (WMD - 1.04 mmHg; 95% CI - 1.96 to - 0.12, p = 0.026) following supplementation with chromium.
Also, in stratification based on participants' health status, significant reduction in SBP only was seen in diabetic patients with chronic heart disease (CHD).
The current meta-analysis, indicated that supplementation with chromium significantly decrease SBP and DBP.
The results of this experiment show that chromium supplementation had a positive effect on blood sugar control and various factors including weight, BMI, SBP, DBP, triglycerides, and waist circumference, and had an effective role in improving the level of liver enzymes.
Monfared V et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (2025)
The results of this experiment show that chromium supplementation had a positive effect on blood sugar control and various factors including weight, BMI, SBP, DBP, triglycerides, and waist circumference, and had an effective role in improving the level of liver enzymes.
Gholami A et al. · Biological trace element research (2025)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
In contrast, chromium supplementation resulted in a non-significant decrease in serum levels of IL-6 (WMD = -0.63 pg/ml; 95% CI: -1.67, 0.4 pg/ml; P < 0.001).
Our study supports the beneficial effect of chromium supplementation on serum concentration of CRP and TNF-α, but our results showed that chromium supplementation non-significantly reduced the serum levels of IL-6.
However, it seems that chromium formulation, participants' BMI, sample size, and geographical region are strong variables that predict the effect of chromium supplementation on inflammatory mediators.
Georgaki MN et al. · Environmental geochemistry and health (2024)
Glycemic control markers, including FPG, insulin, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR levels, significantly decrease following chromium supplementation, mainly in studies with a longer intervention period.
Supplementing with chromium (Cr) indicated that could significantly improve lipid profile by raising high-density lipoprotein and lowering triglyceride and total cholesterol while having little effect on low-density lipoprotein.
However, most research findings include significant limitations, such as inconsistent dosage and type of chromium, formulation of supplements, and study duration.
Vajdi M et al. · Biological trace element research (2023)
However, subgroup analysis by the intervention dose suggested that chromium supplementation in doses higher than 500 µg/day could significantly decrease TG.
The available evidence proposes no beneficial effects of chromium intervention on blood lipids.
As a result, it cannot be used as a single therapy to treat adults with lipid abnormalities.
14Body weight changeMeta-AnalysisCited 7×n=14 · very small study2024
The meta-analysis suggests that chromium supplementation does not significantly reduce BW, BMI, WC, and FM in patients with T2DM.
Vajdi M et al. · Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) (2024)
No clear effect
← WorseNo effectBetter →
The results showed that chromium supplementation did not have any significant effect on FM (WMD = -0.43%; 95% CI -0.94, 0.09), BMI (WMD: 0.09 kg/M2, 95% CI: -0.03, 0.20), WC (WMD: -0.47 cm, 95% CI: -1.10, 0.16), and BW (WMD: -0.26 kg, 95% CI: -0.69, 0.16).
The meta-analysis suggests that chromium supplementation does not significantly reduce BW, BMI, WC, and FM in patients with T2DM.
Further RCTs with large-scale are required to determine the possible anti-obesity effects of chromium in patients with T2DM.
Kim Y et al. · Archives of pharmacal research (2022)
Chromium (HbA1c, FBG, and HOMA-IR), coenzyme Q10 (HbA1c and FBG), vitamin C (HbA1c and FBG), and vitamin E (HbA1c and HOMA-IR) significantly improved glycemic control.
Administration of chromium, coenzyme Q10, and vitamins C and E for T2DM significantly improved glycemic control.
Sensitivity analyses did not modify the pooled effects of pharmaconutrients on glycemic control.
16Biomarkers of inflammationMeta-AnalysisCited 23×2021
Overall, the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis imply that chromium supplementation may help to improve biomarkers of inflammation as markers of myocardial infarction.
Zhang X et al. · Complementary therapies in clinical practice (2021)
Overall, the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis imply that chromium supplementation may help to improve biomarkers of inflammation as markers of myocardial infarction.
18HbA1c reductionMeta-AnalysisCited 94×n=22 · very small study2014
The available evidence suggests favourable effects of chromium supplementation on glycaemic control in patients with diabetes.
Suksomboon N et al. · Journal of clinical pharmacy and therapeutics (2014)
Noticeable benefit
← WorseNo effectBetter →
Likely real
Overall, chromium mono- and combined supplementation significantly improved glycaemic control (mean difference for HbA1c -0·55%; 95% CI -0·88 to -0·22%; P = 0·001, mean difference for FPG -1·15 mm; 95% CI -1·84 to -0·47 mm; P = 0·001).
In particular, chromium monotherapy significantly reduced triglycerides and increased HDL-C levels.
The available evidence suggests favourable effects of chromium supplementation on glycaemic control in patients with diabetes.