A meta‐analysis of the effect of chromium supplementation on anthropometric indices of subjects with overweight or obesity

Abstract

Summary The role of chromium as a weight loss agent remains questionable, and although previous meta‐analyses findings have reported small reductions in body weight in individuals with overweight/obesity following chromium supplementation, there have been significant limitations with these findings. The objective of this meta‐analysis was to evaluate the current evidence for the efficacy of oral chromium supplementation in individuals with overweight/obesity from randomized controlled trials. Studies were identified by a search of electronic databases from inception to November 2018 and combined and stratified analyses were used. Twenty‐one trials from 19 studies were identified which met all inclusion criteria which were suitable for statistical pooling, and data from 1316 participants were included. Pooled analysis showed significant reductions in anthropometric indices associated with body composition; for weight loss (weighted mean difference [WMD]: −0.75 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.04, −0.45, P < 0.001), body mass index (WMD: −0.40, 95% CI, −0.66, −0.13, P = 0.003 and body fat percentage (WMD: −0.68%, 95% CI, −1.32, −0.03, P = 0.04) in individuals with overweight/obesity. No changes were detected in controls. Subgroup analysis showed significant improvements in weight loss and body fat percentage, particularly for study durations ≤12 weeks and doses ≤400 μg/d. Chromium supplementation was associated with some improvements in body composition in subjects with obesity/overweight. The effect size was medium and the clinical relevance of chromium as a weight loss aid remains uncertain. Further investigation from larger and well‐designed randomized controlled studies, especially in patients with diabetes, is warranted.

Levothyroxine Interactions with Food and Dietary Supplements–A Systematic Review

“…Although the effectiveness and safety of chromium picolinate supplementation in overweight and obese people are controversial [ 96 , 97 ], patients with thyroid diseases may use chromium supplements to control body weight.…”

Associations of Heavy Metals with Metabolic Syndrome and Anthropometric Indices

“…Chromium (III) or trivalent chromium is an essential trace element that plays a role in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in the human body and it is normally present in blood and urine, with the mean level of 0.10–0.16 and 0.22 μg/L, respectively [ 58 ]. As mentioned before, Cr supplements could decrease BW and improve anthropometric indices in the obese but not an already-DM population [ 27 ]. Chronic exposure to Cr was found to decrease MetS development in the United States, but not in the Korean population [ 59 , 60 ].…”

“…There were also some studies that focused on the association between heavy metals and body composition but more inconsistently. Chromium (Cr) supplementation was associated with mild bodyweight loss and a decrease in body fat percentage in obese or overweight participants [27]. Serum Zn concentrations were positively associated with both abdominal obesity and total body fat in men but not in women [28].…”

Dietary Supplements—For Whom? The Current State of Knowledge about the Health Effects of Selected Supplement Use

“…A 2013 meta-analysis of randomized studies found that chromium supplementation resulted in only 0.5 kg additional weight reduction in subjects with overweight and obesity, as compared with those taking a placebo [110], and a comparable result (mean: 0.75 kg) was achieved in a similar 2019 meta-analysis [111]. In addition, the literature indicates that chromium supplementation may be associated with several side effects: emesis, nettlerash, and dizziness [112].…”