ABSTRACT
Chromium (III) has long been known to be essential for proper lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in humans. Numerous studies demonstrated chromium (III) as a micronutrient and its benecial role in human nutrition by serving as a critical cofactor in the action of insulin.1-6 Dietary chromium (III) complexes, such as chromium chloride, niacin-bound chromium (NBC), chromium picolinate, chromium dinicocysteinate, and chromium amino acid chelates, are available as stand-alone nutritional supplements or in various formulations which are used for weight loss and weight management, diabetes, and energy. Furthermore, studies have shown chromium (III) chloride, NBC, and chromium picolinate to improve the lipid prole and cardiovascular functions, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and type 2 diabetes in both animals and humans. NBC and chromium picolinate have been particularly popular, especially with athletes who experience exercise-induced increased urinary chromium loss. In many clinical trials, subjects have been administered an average daily dose in the range of 100-1000 μg elemental chromium (III) and have demonstrated benecial effects without any adverse events.
