Today I decided to get some answers from the scientific research
literature on the importance of chromium picolinate for weight loss. The
first thing I did was to search for 'chromium picolinate weight' on
PubMed, the government's free medical database, for research on this
subject. What I found was a list of 139 articles published since 1973.
Many of these articles involved livestock or lab animals. However, more than a dozen were of human clinical research.
The first thing that popped out to me, as a research scientist, is that each study chose a single dosage upon which to base all of their experiments. Some studies used 200 micrograms per day while others went as high as 1,000 micrograms per day. Choosing a single dosage is a weak approach because, right up front, it prohibits any chance for finding an effective dose. It is no surprise, therefore, that results across all studies were inconsistent and contradictory.
Benefits of Chromium Picolinate for Weight Loss
The key effect was more consistent in studies of people with diabetes. Specifically, this ingredient enhances insulin sensitivity, the loss of which is one of the culprits in obesity.
The importance of this finding also applies to people who have not been diagnosed with diabetes, particularly those who are pre-diabetic. Any level of insulin resistance can be called pre-diabetic, and estimates are that at least 20 million Americans are unknowingly insulin resistant. The continued development of this problem is associated with obesity.
This is why chromium picolinate supplements are potentially very important for anyone who has a problem with being overweight.
What About Chromium Picolinate Side Effects?
Case studies report potential liver and kidney problems. However, a case study of a single patient is difficult to extrapolate to everyone. Some people apparently respond more to this supplement, and some people do not respond at all, at least at experimental doses.
Anyone concerned about side effects should consult with their doctor to establish their level of liver and kidney health. These can be determined via common and widely available enzyme tests. Then simply repeat these tests every few months to determine whether there are any changes. Most people, however, will have no problem with taking chromium picolinate supplements. Indeed, I take 2,000 micrograms per day, half at lunch and half at dinner, without any problem whatsoever.
Many of these articles involved livestock or lab animals. However, more than a dozen were of human clinical research.
The first thing that popped out to me, as a research scientist, is that each study chose a single dosage upon which to base all of their experiments. Some studies used 200 micrograms per day while others went as high as 1,000 micrograms per day. Choosing a single dosage is a weak approach because, right up front, it prohibits any chance for finding an effective dose. It is no surprise, therefore, that results across all studies were inconsistent and contradictory.
Benefits of Chromium Picolinate for Weight Loss
The key effect was more consistent in studies of people with diabetes. Specifically, this ingredient enhances insulin sensitivity, the loss of which is one of the culprits in obesity.
The importance of this finding also applies to people who have not been diagnosed with diabetes, particularly those who are pre-diabetic. Any level of insulin resistance can be called pre-diabetic, and estimates are that at least 20 million Americans are unknowingly insulin resistant. The continued development of this problem is associated with obesity.
This is why chromium picolinate supplements are potentially very important for anyone who has a problem with being overweight.
What About Chromium Picolinate Side Effects?
Case studies report potential liver and kidney problems. However, a case study of a single patient is difficult to extrapolate to everyone. Some people apparently respond more to this supplement, and some people do not respond at all, at least at experimental doses.
Anyone concerned about side effects should consult with their doctor to establish their level of liver and kidney health. These can be determined via common and widely available enzyme tests. Then simply repeat these tests every few months to determine whether there are any changes. Most people, however, will have no problem with taking chromium picolinate supplements. Indeed, I take 2,000 micrograms per day, half at lunch and half at dinner, without any problem whatsoever.
Dr. Dennis Clark, PhD, offers his scientific perspectives on the weak science behind studies of Chromium Picolinate for weight loss and why Quick Weight Loss is not beneficial.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Dennis_Clark,_Ph.D.
