Effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study

Chromium picolinate for reducing body weight: Meta-analysis of randomized trials

“…Visual inspection implies that studies with a smaller sample size are asymmetrically distributed to the right of the weighted mean difference of all trials. The two largest trials 22,23 suggesting a mean difference of about 1.2 kg in favour of chromium picolinate more closely reflect the weighted overall estimate. Although too few studies are available for firm statements, the funnel plot is consistent with some degree of publication bias.…”

“…No unpublished studies were found. Fourteen studies were excluded because they were either not randomized, double-blind and placebocontrolled, [31][32][33][34][35] did not test a monopreparation of chromium picolinate, [36][37][38][39][40] did not report on body weight [41][42][43] or were published in duplicate. 44 Ten trials met all inclusion criteria and provided data for body weight that were suitable for statistical pooling (Table 1).…”

“…We first tested whether removing the data of one trial, 23 which accounted for 58% of the overall effect, would alter the direction of the result. The metaanalysis of these data 21,22,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30] suggests the absence of a differential effect (weighted mean difference: À0.9 kg; 95% CI: À2.0 to 0.2 kg, n ¼ 335).…”

“…The metaanalysis of these data 21,22,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30] suggests the absence of a differential effect (weighted mean difference: À0.9 kg; 95% CI: À2.0 to 0.2 kg, n ¼ 335). Another sensitivity analysis assessed six trials, [21][22][23]26,27,30 which all included overweight or obese patients for treatment periods ranging between 6 to 13 weeks (weighted mean difference: À1.1 kg; 95% CI: À1.8 to À0.4 kg, n ¼ 385).…”

“…However, additional data were available in eight other trials, [21][22][23][25][26][27]29,30 which were used in a secondary analysis to provide an indication of the effect Chromium picolinate for reducing body weight MH Pittler et al on percentage body fat and lean body mass. The metaanalysis of these data suggests a nonsignificant effect for lean body mass (weighted mean difference: 0.4 kg; 95% CI: À0.1 to 0.8 kg, n ¼ 416) and a significant effect for percentage body fat (weighted mean difference: À1.2%, 95% CI: À1.7 to À0.6%, n ¼ 416).…”