NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — chromium and glycemic control fact sheet

This fact sheet summarizes human studies of chromium supplements, rather than reporting one new experiment. Researchers looked at people with and without diabetes, a disease that makes blood sugar harder to control. Some studies found small improvements in glycemic control, meaning keeping blood sugar in a healthy range, but others found no benefit. The studies used different chromium products and doses, so the results are difficult to compare.

What this means for you: Chromium is not a proven way to prevent or treat diabetes, and most people can ignore it as a supplement. If you have diabetes, do not use it instead of prescribed treatment, and ask a healthcare professional before trying it.