Chromium is a widely used nutritional supplement marketed for a wide range of
applications. Estimated sales of chromium supplements in U.S. amounted to $85 million in
2002, representing 5.6% of the total mineral-supplement market. Chromium is sold as a
single-ingredient supplement as well as in combination formulas, particularly those
marketed for weight loss and performance enhancement. Clinical studies have focused on
chromium picolinate, but chromium is sold in many forms.
EFFICACY: ATYPICAL DEPRESSION
Recent clinical and experimental studies have reported antidepressant activity of
chromium, particularly in atypical depression, characterized by increased appetite,
hyperphagia (excessive hunger and abnormally large intake of solids by mouth), and
carbohydrate craving, among other clinical features. A compound such as chromium
that exerts a normalizing effect on insulin sensitivity and appetite while having
antidepressant activity may be a promising therapeutic option in people with atypical
depression, a subtype of depression typically associated with overeating and weight
gain.
Lake and Spiegel conclude that, “although, to date, there have been [few] ...
controlled studies, the available data from open [label] trials and observational
