Benefits From Chromium Picolinate

Chromium is an essential mineral, meaning that your body cannot manufacture it and you need to obtain it from your diet. Good dietary sources of chromium include breads and cereals, lean meats, fish, cheese, coffee, tea and some spices, such as black pepper and thyme. Chromium is also sold as a dietary supplement; chromium picolinate is one of the most commonly used forms. Talk to your health-care practitioner before supplementing with chromium.

Chromium Deficiency

Chromium picolinate supplements can help correct a chromium deficiency, which may include symptoms such as weight loss, loss of cognitive function and blood sugar fluctuations. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD) states that although a chromium deficiency is relatively rare, pregnant women, malnourished individuals, diabetics and athletes may all become deficient.

Diabetes

Many diabetics have lower than normal levels of chromium in their bodies, and chromium picolinate supplements have been implicated as beneficial for the treatment of diabetes. Diabetes is a disorder characterized by an inability to produce, or an insensitivity to, the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin and consequently chronic high blood sugar levels. Some evidence suggests that chromium can help to decrease fasting blood sugar levels and increase insulin sensitivity in both type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Chromium picolinate may also help prevent common secondary diabetic conditions such as weight gain and elevated cholesterol levels, notes the NMCD. Some studies have shown conflicting results however, and more research needs to be done to confirm the efficacy of chromium picolinate as an antidiabetic supplement.

Atypical Depression

Atypical depression is a type of depression that tends to cause greater functional impairments than other forms of depression. It is characterized by symptoms such as a loss of interest in normal daily activities and sex, depressed mood, fatigue, appetite and weight changes, as well as aches and pains. The February 2003 issue of "Biological Psychiatry" journal reported on a study that examined the effects of 600 mcg of chromium picolinate in patients with atypical depression. At the end of the eight week study, 70 percent of the patients taking the chromium supplements experienced a measurable reduction of symptoms.

Additional Uses

Alternative medicine practitioners use chromium supplements to treat polycystic ovary syndrome, high cholesterol levels, Turner's syndrome and hypoglycemia. In addition, people use chromium to enhance athletic performance, increase energy and vigor, promote weight loss, increase muscle mass and fat-free mass and decrease body fat. The research confirming the effectiveness of chromium picolinate for these purposes is still preliminary, however.