A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Exploratory Trial of Chromium Picolinate in Atypical Depression: Effect on Carbohydrate Craving

Docherty, John P.; Sack, David A.; Roffman, Mark; Finch, Manley; Komorowski, James

doi:10.1097/00131746-200509000-00004

Cited by 73 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Although chromium picolinate was used with the purpose to induce fat loss and decrease carbohydrate craving, previous studies found no benefits of chromium picolinate supplementation in inducing fat loss 108,122,123 and appetite control. 123 However, a previous study suggested that chromium picolinate was beneficial in a subpopulation of patients with high carbohydrate craving, suggesting it may be beneficial for patients with atypical depression who also have severe carbohydrate craving, 124 which may be the case in some bodybuilders. It is important to note that the safe dose of chromium was not established and the amount used by the participants was significantly above the recommended upper limit, which could have a negative health impact.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition, pharmacological and training strategies adopted by six bodybuilders: case report and critical review

et al. 2017

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The purpose of this study was to report and analyze the practices adopted by bodybuilders in light of scientific evidence and to propose evidence-based alternatives. Six (four male and two female) bodybuilders and their coaches were directly interviewed. According to the reports, the quantity of anabolic steroids used by the men was 500–750 mg/week during the bulking phase and 720–1160 mg during the cutting phase. The values for women were 400 and 740 mg, respectively. The participants also used ephedrine and hydrochlorothiazide during the cutting phase. Resistance training was designed to train each muscle once per week and all participants performed aerobic exercise in the fasted state in order to reduce body fat. During the bulking phase, bodybuilders ingested ~2.5 g of protein/kg of body weight. During the cutting phase, protein ingestion increased to ~3 g/kg and carbohydrate ingestion decreased by 10–20%. During all phases, fat ingestion corresponded to ~15% of the calories ingested. The supplements used were whey protein, chromium picolinate, omega 3 fatty acids, branched chain amino acids, poly-vitamins, glutamine and caffeine. The men also used creatine in the bulking phase. In general, the participants gained large amounts of fat-free mass during the bulking phase; however, much of that fat-free mass was lost during the cutting phase along with fat mass. Based on our analysis, we recommend an evidence-based approach by people involved in bodybuilding, with the adoption of a more balanced and less artificial diet. One important alert should be given for the combined use of anabolic steroids and stimulants, since both are independently associated with serious cardiovascular events. A special focus should be given to revisiting resistance training and avoiding fasted cardio in order to decrease the reliance on drugs and thus preserve bodybuilders’ health and integrity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutrition, pharmacological and training strategies adopted by six bodybuilders: case report and critical review

et al. 2017

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“…However, insulin receptors are ubiquitously found in the central nervous system and insulin affects distinct cognitive processes [58]. Chromium supplementation downregulates brain serotonin receptor and increases brain tryptophane, serotonin, noradrenaline, and pineal melatonin, which are linked to insulin sensitivity and depression [59][60][61][62]. In experiments involving animals, however, it is impossible to examine directly the level of depression, but some behavioral features can be attributed to central nervous system activity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Chromium Complex and Level on Glucose Metabolism and Memory Acquisition in Rats Fed High-Fat Diet

Şahin

Tuzcu

Orhan

et al. 2010

Biol Trace Elem Res

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Conditions in which glucose metabolism is impaired due to insulin resistance are associated with memory impairment. It was hypothesized that supplemental chromium (Cr) may alleviate insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes and consequently improve memory acquisition, depending upon its source and level. In a complete randomized design experiment, male Wistar rats (n=60; weighing 200-220 g) were fed either normal (8%, normal diet (ND)) or high-fat (40%, high-fat diet (HFD)) diet and supplemented with Cr as either chromium-glycinate (CrGly) or chromium-acetate (CrAc) at doses of 0, 40, or 80 μg/kg body weight (BW) via drinking water from 8 to 20 weeks of age. Feeding HFD induced type 2 diabetes, as reflected by greater glucose/insulin ratio (2.98 vs. 2.74) comparing to feeding ND. Moreover, HFD rats had greater BW (314 vs. 279 g) and less serum (53 vs. 68 μg/L) and brain (14 vs. 24 ng/g) Cr concentrations than ND rats. High-fat diet caused a 32% reduction in expressions of glucose transporters 1 and 3 (GLUTs) in brain tissue and a 27% reduction in mean percentage time spent in the target quadrant and a 38% increase in spatial memory acquisition phase (SMAP) compared with ND. Compared with supplemental Cr as CrAc, CrGly was more effective to ameliorate response variables (i.e., restoration of tissue Cr concentration, enhancement of cerebral GLUTs expressions, and reduction of the glucose/insulin ratio and SMAP) in a dose-response manner, especially in rats fed HFD. Supplemental Cr as CrGly may have therapeutic potential to enhance insulin action and alleviate memory acquisition in a dose-dependent manner, through restoring tissue Cr reserve and enhancing cerebral GLUTs expressions.

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“…The chromium doses were chosen in light of prior studies in non-BED populations. This literature strongly suggested that low doses of chromium (< 400 mcg/day) could be sufficient for upregulating insulin binding and improving fasting glucose [42], moderate doses (600 mcg/day) could be sufficient to reduce depressive symptoms and cravings [23, 24], but 1000 mcg/day would be necessary to prevent weight gain [21, 43]. Because 1) avoidance of weight gain is such a critical factor in compliance and retention in overweight individuals seeking BED treatment, and 2) there is a theoretical concern of prolonged high dose exposure, establishing the minimum effective dose of chromium for binge abstinence and stabilization of metabolic parameters is an important long-term objective of our research.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A double-blind, randomized pilot trial of chromium picolinate for binge eating disorder: Results of the Binge Eating and Chromium (BEACh) Study

Brownley

Holle

Hamer

et al. 2013

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

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Objective Chromium treatment has been shown to improve mood, appetite, and glucose regulation in various psychiatric and medical patient populations. The authors propose that chromium may be useful in the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED). Method Twenty-four overweight adults with BED were enrolled in a 6-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial and randomly assigned to receive either 1000mcg chromium/day (“high dose”; n=8) or 600mcg chromium/day (“moderate dose”; n=9) as chromium picolinate or placebo (n=7). Mixed linear regression models were used to estimate mean change in binge frequency and related psychopathology, weight, symptoms of depression, and fasting glucose. Results Fasting glucose was significantly reduced in both chromium groups compared to the placebo group; similarly, numerically, but not significantly, greater reductions in binge frequency, weight, and symptoms of depression were observed in those treated with chromium versus placebo, although statistical power was limited in this pilot trial. For fasting glucose, the findings suggest a dose response with larger effects in the high dose compared to moderate dose group. Conclusion These initial findings support further larger trials to determine chromium’s efficacy in maintaining normal glucose regulation, reducing binge eating and related psychopathology, promoting modest weight loss, and reducing symptoms of depression in individuals with BED. Studies designed to link the clinical effects of chromium with changes in underlying insulin, serotonin, and dopamine pathways may be especially informative. If efficacious, chromium supplementation may provide a useful, low-cost alternative to or augmentation strategy for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which have partial efficacy in BED. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00904306.

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A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Exploratory Trial of Chromium Picolinate in Atypical Depression: Effect on Carbohydrate Craving

Cited by 73 publications

References 73 publications

Nutrition, pharmacological and training strategies adopted by six bodybuilders: case report and critical review

Nutrition, pharmacological and training strategies adopted by six bodybuilders: case report and critical review

The Effects of Chromium Complex and Level on Glucose Metabolism and Memory Acquisition in Rats Fed High-Fat Diet

A double-blind, randomized pilot trial of chromium picolinate for binge eating disorder: Results of the Binge Eating and Chromium (BEACh) Study

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