Chrome supplements are not necessary unless you have been invited by your doctor to take one. “A healthy, balanced and varied diet will provide you with everything you need,” explains Torey Armul, RD, who is based in Lewis Center, Ohio. In addition, if you take daily multivitamin, chrome is included in most preparations.
It should be noted that despite the claims that chrome can help with weight loss or help people with diabetes, there is little research to support these declarations, according to the NIH.
Here are some conditions for which Chrome can offer advantages.
Can help manage diabetes
Some evidence suggest that chrome supplements can be an effective element in diabetes management. A meta-analysis review of the use of supplements for type 2 diabetes patients reported that chrome was the most effective nutrients tested when it comes to reducing fasting blood sugar. But this link was not strong enough to be successful. Another study reported that men who have low chrome levels were more likely to have diabetes. The authors noted that the results indicate that the supplement with the chrome can be beneficial for some, but has added that more research is necessary.
But other organizations warn that research is not currently showing a sufficiently strong advantage to integrate chrome into your diabetes management. In 2024, the American Diabetes Association said that there is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of chrome to improve glycemic control in people with diabetes.
“It should be noted that studies that have shown that Chrome was beneficial recommended that it be used in conjunction with traditional diabetes management practices,” said Kristi King, RD, who works at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The studies mentioned did not consider chrome to replace other treatments of diabetes.
Can improve certain symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome
Although the results are also mixed in terms of chrome effects on symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials noted that chrome can improve insulin resistance and testosterone levels in those with polycystic ovary syndrome. But the review has found no advantage for symptoms such as high cholesterol, insulin metabolism and hormone levels.
Even if some studies show that chrome can help certain symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, researchers note that more high quality studies are necessary.
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