Chromium picolinate, long known as a helpful supplement for better blood sugar control, may also be important for blood cholesterol. Researchers combined clinical data from five double blind, placebo controlled studies involving more than 300 adults. It was found that on average total blood cholesterol levels fell more than 20 points -- from more than 220 mg/dl to less than 200 mg/dl -- in people receiving chromium picolinate and not in those receiving placebo.
Although chromium picolinate at levels of 200 mcg per day significantly lowered blood cholesterol, supplementation with 1,000 mcg per day had more pronounced effects. Chromium picolinate supplementation was required for at least two months to see an effect. The only studies that have examined the effects of chromium supplementation on blood lipids in humans have used chromium in the form of chromium picolinate.
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