Chromium Picolinate: What Is Chromium Picolinate
Content provided by Cerner Multum, Inc.
What is chromium picolinate?
Chromium is a mineral found in certain foods. The body needs only trace amounts of chromium, and deficiency of this mineral in humans is rare.
Chromium picolinate works together with insulin produced by the pancreas to metabolize carbohydrates.
Chromium picolinate has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to lowering cholesterol or improving the body's use of glucose (sugar). It is also commonly touted as a weight-loss supplement that aids in reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle.
 | Not all uses for chromium picolinate have been approved by the FDA. Chromium picolinate should not be substituted for prescription medications. |
Chromium picolinate is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.
Chromium picolinate may also be used for other purposes not listed in chromium picolinate guide.
| Last updated: | February 13, 2008 |
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