Do I Need to Take Chromium Picolinate for PCOS?
If you have PCOS then you may be overwhelmed with the choice of supplements out there which claim to help manage your symptoms.
PCOS is a common endocrine disorder with reproductive and metabolic consequences which impacts 1 in 10 people with ovaries in the UK. Symptoms of PCOS include acne, oily skin, hair loss, excessive hair growth, irregular periods, infertility and weight gain.
Chromium picolinate is a supplement consisting of trivalent chromium and picolinate acid. Trivalent chromium is typically considered an essential trace mineral as we can’t make it in the body. Picolinate acid is an organic compound added in order to enhance gut absorption (1).
There is some evidence suggesting that chromium picolinate may impact insulin levels, blood sugar levels, ovulation and period regularity.
A randomised control trial on 92 women found that chromium picolinate decreased fasting blood sugar and insulin levels over three months, similarly to metformin, but didn’t impact androgen levels. It had no impact on ovulation and pregnancy rate (1).
A double-blind randomised control trial with 85 people with PCOS found that 6-months of supplementing with chromium picolinate reduced fasting serum insulin levels, increased the fasting glucose-insulin ratio, increased the chances of ovulation and regularity of menstruation (2).
Similarly, a study of five people with PCOS found that two months of supplementing chromium picolinate resulted in an improved glucose disposal rate, indicating improvement of insulin resistance (3).
Despite this encouraging evidence, the studies of the impact of chromium picolinate on PCOS are still very small and we require a higher quality of evidence to be able to recommend chromium picolinate to people with PCOS. However there are other supplements that you may want to include in your diet to support you in your PCOS journey. You can read more about some of the other common supplements in PCOS on the blog. Remember, if you choose to supplement, please inform your healthcare professional.
If you would like more personalised advice about optimal nutrition to help in managing your PCOS symptoms, get in touch to book a FREE discovery call to find out more about my 1:1 consultations.
References
Amooee S, Parsanezhad ME, Ravanbod Shirazi M, Alborzi S, Samsami A. Metformin versus chromium picolinate in clomiphene citrate-resistant patients with PCOs: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Iran J Reprod Med. 2013;11(8):611-618.
Ashoush S, Abou-Gamrah A, Bayoumy H, Othman N. Chromium picolinate reduces insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome: Randomized controlled trial. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2016 Mar;42(3):279-85. doi: 10.1111/jog.12907. Epub 2015 Dec 14. PMID: 26663540.
Lydic ML, McNurlan M, Bembo S, Mitchell L, Komaroff E, Gelato M. Chromium picolinate improves insulin sensitivity in obese subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2006 Jul;86(1):243-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.11.069. Epub 2006 May 30. PMID: 16730719.
