Dr. Grey AI

Chromium

Chromium is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust and is found in small amounts in a variety of foods. Chromium supplementation seems to enhance the effects of insulin in the body, leading to improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation in people with insulin resistance. Although chromium has historically been considered an essential nutrient for the human body, current evidence challenges this notion.

Quick Answer

What it is

Chromium is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust and is found in small amounts in a variety of foods. Chromium supplementation seems to enhance the effects of insulin in the body, leading to improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation in people with insulin resistance.

Key findings

  • Grade B: Body Fat
  • Grade B: Blood glucose
  • Grade C: Acne Symptoms (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS))

Safety

No specific caution or interaction language was detected in the current summary/outcome notes.

ℹ️ Quick Facts: Chromium

Quick Facts: Chromium

  • Best Evidence:Grade B
  • Conditions Studied:29
  • Research Outcomes:300
  • Grade B Findings:3
  • Key Effect:Muscle Size & Strength
Outcomes by grade:
A0
B3
C14
D12
29 conditions · 300 outcomes

Detailed Outcomes

Grade:
Effect:
Size:
Sort:
|
B
Body Fat
Small Decrease
5 studies
small↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Power Output
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
B
Body Fat
Small Decrease
5 studies
small↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↑Worsens
?
Power Output
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
B
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
QTc Intervals
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Acne Symptoms
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Glutathione (GSH)
9 studies
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Free Testosterone
5 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
5 studies
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
?
Body Mass Index (BMI)
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Excessive Hair Growth
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Interleukin 6
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Luteinizing Hormone
3 studies
↑Improves
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Serum DHEA
2 studies
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Progesterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Prolactin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Body Fat
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Power Output
2 studies
↑Improves
?
C-Peptide
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Glutathione (GSH)
9 studies
↑Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
5 studies
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 6
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
vLDL-C
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Body Fat
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Power Output
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
C
Appetite
Small Decrease
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Libido
1 study
↑Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Resistin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
CD4 Lymphocytes
1 study
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
HIV Viral Load
1 study
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Binge-eating
Small Improvement
1 study
small↑Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Small Improvement
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Blood glucose
Small Improvement
small↓Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Memory
1 study
↑Improves
C
HbA1c
Moderate Improvement
moderate↓Improves
?
Schizophrenia symptoms
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
C
Body Fat
Small Decrease
1 study
small↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
?
Power Output
1 study
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Glutathione (GSH)
No effect
9 studies
none
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
5 studies
↑Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
D
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
No effect
4 studies
none
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Glutathione (GSH)
9 studies
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC)
8 studies
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
7 studies
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Superoxide Dismutase Activity
5 studies
↑Improves
?
TNF-Alpha
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
?
Interleukin 6
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Food Intake
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Fructosamine
2 studies
↑Worsens
?
Apolipoprotein A
1 study
↑Improves
?
Apolipoprotein B
1 study
↓Improves
?
Appetite
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
Hepatic Glucose Production
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Kidney Function
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Metabolic Rate
1 study
↑Improves
?
QTc Intervals
1 study
↑Improves
?
Resistin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Urea
1 study
↑Improves
?
vLDL-C
↓Improves
D
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
5 studies
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Apolipoprotein A
1 study
↑Improves
?
Apolipoprotein B
1 study
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Eosinophil count
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Immunity
1 study
↑Improves
?
LDL Oxidation
1 study
↓Improves
?
Lymphocyte Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Neutrophil Count
1 study
↑Improves
?
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers
↓Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
↑Worsens
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Glycogen
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glycogen Resynthesis
1 study
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
D
Bilirubin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
1 study
↓Improves
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
DNA Damage
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
↑Improves
?
Free Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Kidney Function
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Luteinizing Hormone
1 study
↑Improves
?
Serum DHEA
1 study
↑Improves
?
Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
1 study
↑Improves
?
Testosterone
1 study
↑Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
3 studies
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
3 studies
↓Improves
?
HbA1c
↓Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Appetite
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
C-Peptide
1 study
↑Improves
?
Food Intake
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Resistin
1 study
↑Improves
D
Anaerobic Capacity
No effect
1 study
none
?
Body Fat
4 studies
↓Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Power Output
2 studies
↑Improves
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
↑Worsens
?
Fat Oxidation
1 study
↑Improves
?
Heart Rate
1 study
↓Improves
?
Muscular Endurance
1 study
↑Improves
D
Adiponectin
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Body Fat
3 studies
↓Improves
?
Insulin
↑Worsens
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Muscle Mass
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
2 studies
↓Improves
?
Bilirubin
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Blood Lactate (Exercise)
↑Worsens
?
C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
↓Improves
?
Cell Adhesion Factors
1 study
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
Glycogen
1 study
↑Improves
?
Glycogen Resynthesis
1 study
↑Improves
?
Kidney Function
↑Improves
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
D
Kidney Function
No effect
none
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Kidney Function
No effect
none
?
Liver Enzymes
1 study
↑Worsens
?
Weight
↓Improves
D
Blood Flow
No effect
1 study
none
?
Blood glucose
↓Improves
?
Blood Pressure
↓Improves
?
Glycemic Control
↑Improves
?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL)
↑Improves
?
Kidney Function
↑Improves
?
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
↓Improves
?
Proteinuria
1 study
↑Improves
?
Total cholesterol
↓Improves
?
Triglycerides
1 study
↓Improves
?
Weight
↓Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
↓Improves
?
Depression Symptoms
↓Improves
?
PMS Symptoms
↓Improves

Evidence by Condition

Best grade per condition (each condition may have multiple outcomes)

BMuscle Size & Strength
1
↓Body FatImproves↑Muscle MassImproves↑WeightWorsens
CPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
1
↓Acne SymptomsImproves↑Glutathione (GSH)Improves↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves
CBody Composition
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Body FatImproves↓WeightImproves
CMetabolic Syndrome
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Glutathione (GSH)Improves↓C-Reactive Protein (CRP)Improves
CHealthy Muscle Aging
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Body FatImproves↑Muscle MassImproves
CDepression
1
↓AppetiteImproves↓Depression SymptomsImproves↑LibidoImproves
CDyslipidemia
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves↓Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)Improves
CHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves↓Body FatImproves
CType 1 Diabetes
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves↑InsulinWorsens
CBinge Eating Disorder
1
↑Binge-eatingImproves↓Blood glucoseImproves↓HbA1cImproves
CBipolar Disorder
1
↓Bipolar Disorder SymptomsImproves↓Depression SymptomsImproves
CGestational Diabetes
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves↑InsulinWorsens
CMild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
1
↓Blood glucoseImproves↓Depression SymptomsImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves
CSchizophrenia
1
↓HbA1cImproves↓Schizophrenia symptomsImproves↓WeightImproves
CWrestling Performance
1
↓Body FatImproves↑Muscle MassImproves↑Muscular EnduranceImproves
DType 2 Diabetes
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme ProfileAdiponectin↓WeightImproves
DHigh Cholesterol
1
Anti-Oxidant Enzyme Profile↓Blood glucoseImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
DMetabolic Health
1
Adiponectin↓Blood glucoseImproves↑InsulinWorsens
DObesity
1
Bilirubin↓WeightImproves↑High-density lipoprotein (HDL)Improves
DWeight Loss & Maintenance
1
Adiponectin↓Blood glucoseImproves↑Glycemic ControlImproves

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