The smarter form of chromium for metabolic health, weight loss, and nutrient partitioning is the patented ChromeMate® form. Today we'll look at the research on why it's the only form of chromium we use in the Kaged Clean Burn line, our supplements that support healthy weight loss.*
When you’re focused on fat loss or improving body composition, managing how your body handles carbohydrates is key. And if you’re supplementing to support that goal, not all ingredients, or forms, are created equal.
What is Chromium?
Chromium is a trace mineral that supports carbohydrate metabolism by working alongside insulin, the hormone responsible for helping shuttle carbs into your muscles for energy or storage. Because of this role, it has become a popular supplement ingredient to support weight loss goals. But the form of chromium you take matters.
The Forms of Supplemental Chromium
On pharmacy store shelves, you may see three different types of chromium.
- Chromium chloride
-
Chromium nicotinate
- Chromium picolinate
Between these three, chromium picolinate is more bioavailable, as shown in this 2007 study.
Starting with picolinate is key because supplements are worthless if you can't absorb them.
However, the story doesn't end there.
What is ChromeMate®?
ChromeMate® is a patented form of chromium picolinate with superior bioavailability and efficacy.*
How? ChromeMate® is niacin-bound. This means, rather than appearing on its own, it's bound to a niacin (vitamin B3) molecule, which supports its absorption and biological activity in the body.
One study on the niacin-bound chromium picolinate (ChromeMate®) showed it is a 18 times more bioactive than other forms of chromium.
In animal models, where the absorption and retention rate were tested, they found it to be 600% greater than chromium chloride and 300% greater than the common CP.
ChromeMate® Supports Blood Sugar Control*
As mentioned, Chromium is a key supplement for helping with carbohydrate management.
This is not just key for those who want to get lean. We know that having blood sugar levels within a healthy range is crucial for long-term wellness. By aiding insulin you will partition more nutrients into the muscle and less away from fat.
Studies have shown a high-carb diet can reduce insulin function or sensitivity. This is called insulin resistance. Being insulin resistant means you are more likely to gain weight and be at increased risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
When your carbohydrate or blood glucose control is poor you will store more fat.
A study on ChromeMate® at Georgetown University and Creighton University and found that 3mg of ChromeMate, which provided 300mg of Chromium, significantly lowered fasting blood glucose levels. It also improved HbA1c levels which is a long term marker of carbohydrate tolerance and a good indicator of metabolic health.
ChromeMate® Support Weight Loss*
Because of these mechanisms, early research on ChromeMate® theorized that it could be beneficial for weight loss.
This would be confirmed with later studies.
In one randomized control study, 43 obese women were provided with 4mg (400mcg of chromium), combined with an exercise program. After 8 weeks, the exercise group alone lost no weight, which demonstrates no alteration in diet or energy balance. However, the ChromeMate® supplement group witnessed a 2.4lb weight loss, which may have been more if the diet had been stricter or more controlled. Insulin levels in response to a glucose tolerance test (a high carb meal) were also improved (6).
In this study, they compared ChromeMate® to a generic chromium picolinate supplement. The generic form did not result in the same level of weight loss.
A similar study compared 6mg ChromeMate® over a 2 month period. They found, when compared to placebo, that it caused similar weight loss (2.5lb) and minimized any muscle mass loss.
The Only Form of Chromium We Use
ChromeMate® seems to be a higher quality, more bioavailable supplement.
Other studies have shown ChromeMate® is more beneficial than normal chromium picolinate for markers of health such as blood sugar control, cholesterol, lipid profile and oxidative stress.
In the studies cited above, ChromeMate® seems to be an effective supplement for blood glucose and carbohydrate management.
It may also aid in weight loss to a greater extent than the generic form.
It has shown to be an effective tool for supporting weight loss, which is why we use ChromeMate® in Clean Burn Capsules, Clean Burn Powder, and Clean Burn Elite.
References
DiSilvestro, Robert A, and Emily Dy. Comparison of acute absorption of commercially available chromium supplements. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS) vol. 21,2 (2007): 120-4.
Cooper JA, Anderson BF, Buckley PD, Blackwell LF. Structure and biological activity of nitrogen and oxygen coordinated nicotinic acid complexes of chromium. Inorg Chim Acta. 1984;91:1-9.
Olin KL, Stearns DM, Armstrong WH, Keen CL. Comparative retention/absorption of 51chromium (51Cr) from 51Cr chloride, 51Cr nicotinate and 51Cr picolinate in a rat model. Trace Elem Electrol. 1994;11:182-186.
Bagchi M, Jensen N, Preuss HG, Bagchi D. Efficacy and toxicological assessment of a novel, niacin-bound chromium in ameliorating metabolic disorders, 10th International Congress of Toxicology-Finland 197:abs. 354, July 2004.
Preuss HG, Wallerstedt D, Talpur N, et al. Effects of niacin-bound chromium and grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on the lipid profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects: A pilot study. J Med. 2000;31:227-246.
Lefavi RG, Wilson D, Keith RE, Anderson RA, Blessing DL. Lipid-lowering effect of a dietary chromium (III)-nicotnic acid complex in male athletes. Nutr Res. 1993;13:239-249.
Grant KE, Chandler RM, Castle AL, Ivy JL. Chromium and exercise training: effect on obese women. Med
Crawford C, Scheckenback R, Preuss HG. Effects of niacin-bound chromium supplementation on body composition in overweight African-American women. Diab Obes Metabol. 1999;1:331-337.
Jain SK, Rains JL, Croad JL. High glucose and ketosis (acetoacetate) increases, and chromium niacinate decreases, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 secretion and oxidative stress in U937 monocytes. Antiox Redox Signal. 2007;9:1581-1590.
Jain SK, Rains JL, Croad JL. Effect of chromium niacinate and chromium picolinate supplementation on lipid peroxidation, TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in blood of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats. Free Rad Biol Med. 2007;43:1124-1131.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intented to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
