Chromium supplements aren’t necessary unless you’ve been instructed by your physician to take one. “A healthy, balanced, and varied diet will provide you with all you need,” says Torey Armul, RD, who is based in Lewis Center, Ohio. In addition, if you take a daily multivitamin, chromium is included in most preparations.
It’s worth noting that despite claims that chromium may aid weight loss or help those with diabetes, there’s little research to support those statements, according to the NIH.
Here are some conditions for which chromium may provide some benefit.
May Help Manage Diabetes
There is some evidence to suggest that chromium supplements may be an effective part of diabetes management. One meta-analysis review of the use of supplements for type 2 diabetes patients reported that chromium was the most effective nutrient tested when it came to reducing fasting blood glucose levels. But this link was not strong enough to be conclusive. Another study reported that men who have low chromium levels were more likely to have diabetes. The authors noted that the results indicate supplementing with chromium may be beneficial for some, but added that more research is needed.
But other organizations caution that the research doesn’t currently show a strong enough benefit to incorporate chromium into your diabetes management. In 2024, the American Diabetes Association stated there is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of chromium to improve glycemic control in people with diabetes.
“It should be noted that studies that have shown chromium to be beneficial have recommended that it be used in conjunction with traditional diabetes management practices,” says Kristi King, RD, who works at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The studies mentioned have not looked at chromium as a replacement for other diabetes treatments.
May Improve Some Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Symptoms
Though findings are also mixed in terms of chromium’s effects on polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms, one meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials noted that chromium can improve insulin resistance and testosterone levels in those with polycystic ovary syndrome. But the review found no benefit for symptoms such as high cholesterol, insulin metabolism, and hormone levels.
Even though a few studies show chromium may help some symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, researchers note that more high-quality studies are needed.
