Suppresses absorption of Chromium. This medication is commonly used for Depression
Research suggests the trace mineral chromium may offer some benefits for people experiencing depression, particularly those with atypical depression. Atypical depression is characterized by symptoms like increased appetite, carbohydrate cravings, and weight gain, alongside feelings of sadness and low mood. Studies show chromium supplementation might improve these specific symptoms in people with atypical depression who also have strong carbohydrate cravings. The potential explanation lies in chromium's possible effects on insulin utilization and brain chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine, both of which are involved in mood regulation. Supplementation with chromium is suggested to support mood and help protect against depression.
Docherty JP, Sack DA, Roffman M, Finch M, Komorowski JR. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial of chromium picolinate in atypical depression: effect on carbohydrate craving. J Psychiatr Pract. 2005 Sep;11(5):302-14. Davidson JR, Abraham K, Connor KM, McLeod MN. Effectiveness of chromium in atypical depression: a placebo-controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Feb 1;53(3):261-4. Malcolm N. McLeod, Robert N. Golden, Chromium treatment of depression, International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 3, Issue 4, December 2000, Pages 311–314,
Chromium Picolinate — 200 mcg
Chromium deficiency has been linked to higher cardiovascular risk because low chromium status can impair both glucose and lipid metabolism, driving compensatory hyperinsulinemia that promotes atherogenic changes over time. Studies have reported markedly lower plasma chromium levels in patients with established coronary artery disease compared with healthy controls, suggesting that inadequate chromium may be more common in people with overt atherosclerosis. Mechanistically, chromium insufficiency can worsen insulin resistance, elevate circulating insulin, and contribute to dyslipidemia, supporting the idea that unrecognized chromium deficiency may act as an upstream, modifiable risk factor in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease.
In observational and clinical data, low chromium status has been associated with impaired insulin signaling and may contribute to the long‑term development of type 2 diabetes in susceptible individuals. Chromium acts as a cofactor that helps insulin work more efficiently at its receptor and through downstream signaling pathways, so deficiency can worsen glucose intolerance, increase circulating insulin needs, and exacerbate other metabolic risk factors over time. Population analyses have reported lower odds of having type 2 diabetes among adults who regularly consume chromium‑containing supplements compared with non‑users, though trial results remain mixed, suggesting that chromium repletion may be most relevant in people with documented deficiency or marked insulin resistance rather than as a universal preventive strategy.
In clinical settings, chromium deficiency has been linked to impaired glucose tolerance and emerging insulin resistance, particularly in patients on long‑term total parenteral nutrition where trace‑element provision is inadequate. Chromium functions as a cofactor that helps insulin signal more effectively at its receptor, so low chromium status can worsen post‑meal glucose excursions and increase insulin requirements despite otherwise unchanged diet or medications. Case reports and small series describe patients with unexplained hyperglycemia and neuropathic symptoms whose glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and sometimes weight trajectory improved after chromium was added back to their nutrition support, underscoring that unrecognized deficiency can masquerade as primary type 2 diabetes or “idiopathic” insulin resistance.
Chromium deficiency has been associated with episodes of confusion and broader cognitive impairment, particularly in patients on long‑term parenteral nutrition who also show impaired glucose tolerance and emerging insulin resistance. Case descriptions suggest that when chromium is extremely low, fluctuating blood glucose and high circulating insulin may contribute to “brain fog,” slowed processing, and difficulty concentrating, sometimes improving after chromium is added back to the nutrition regimen. While large, definitive trials on cognition are lacking, these observations raise the possibility that unrecognized chromium deficiency in people with metabolic instability could quietly worsen cognitive performance and that chromium repletion may help in deficiency states.
Chromium Picolinate by Pure Encapsulations — 200 mcg