The Science

Body Composition/Obesity

Here are a number of key, representative studies in this area using chromium picolinate.

1998.

  • Gilbert R. Kaats, Kenneth Blum, Dennis Pullin, Samuel C. Keith and Robert Wood. “A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a replication and extension of a previous study,” Current Therapeutic Research 59(6):379-388, 1998.


Clinically obese participants received either 400 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP) or a placebo for three months, during which time physical activity and calorie logs were maintained. The supplemented subjects lost significantly more body weight and fat mass than did the placebo group. Since this trial used a very sensitive measure of body composition via dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in conjunction with diet and exercise monitoring, this study validates earlier findings that supplementation with CP leads to improvements in lean body mass.

1996.

  • Gilbert R. Kaats, Kenneth Blum, Jeffrey A. Fisher and Jack A. Adelman. “Effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study,” Current Therapeutic Research 57(10):747-456, 1996.


In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 154 patients who received 200 or 400 mcg per day of chromium as chromium picolinate (CP) or placebo for 72 days, both doses of CP produced significant gains in lean body mass and decreases in body fat compared to people receiving a placebo. Overall, supplementation with CP led to significant improvements in body composition.

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Chromium from Foods
How much Chromium do we get from foods? USDA research indicates that the average American’s diet provides only about 35 mcg a day of chromium. However, the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) or Recommended Daily Value for chromium is 120 mcg.
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