Remember in the 1980s when picolinate chromium was THE supplement to take if you wanted to lose weight. Was the supplement really that effective or did we mentally convince ourselves to lose more weight?
About Chromium Picolinate
Chromium picolinate is a supplemental ingredient in many over the counter diet pills. These diet pills claim that picolinate chromium will speed up the metabolism and help the body to shed more weight, faster. Science may not agree with these claims.
The Science of Chromium Picolinate
The diet pill companies will claim that chromium stabilizes insulin, increases metabolism and decreases hunger. (1) Science, however, does not substantiate these claims.
According to a study completed in 2003, picolinate chromium did not help users to lose more weight even when the test subjects added exercise to the chromium picolinate regime. (2) Another study completed in 2006, again supported the claims of the initial study that chromium picolinate does not change the body composition of the user in any way, shape or form. (3) Weight is simply not lost when picolinate chromium is used.
Additional Testing?
The scientific community is not done with chromium yet, however. There are currently studies being held by the National Institutes of Health involving picolinate chromium and weight related conditions. These studies are on-going and include a variety of extenuating circumstances such as depression and the use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. (4)
Why Do We Believe the Hype?
It is clear from the outcome of the various completed scientific studies that cpicolinate chromium just does not help the user to lose more weight. Why, then, do consumers continue to use the supplement both as a part of over the counter diet pills and as an individual supplement? The answer to this question does not need scientific proof; it is simply, mass media.
Consumers tend to believe what they want to hear. If someone tells them they will lose more weight taking picolinate chromium, they will take chromium picolinate. The need to lose weight quickly and effectively often supercedes the need to research a product before taking a chance that the ingredients will not work.
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