Chromium for Weight Loss
Chromium (usually chromium picolinate) does not cause meaningful weight loss. Trials detect a tiny statistical reduction of roughly half a kilogram to one kilogram, but it is far too small to matter, and regulators, clinics, and obesity specialists do not endorse chromium for shedding weight.
Why this grade7-layer evidence engine
The three pivotal pooled analyses reached the same verdict: any effect is statistically present but clinically negligible. Pittler 2003 (PMID 12664086, n=489) and Tian 2013 (PMID 24293292, n=392) each found about a 1.1 kg difference versus placebo, and Onakpoya 2013 (PMID 23495911, n=622) found only 0.50 kg (roughly 1.7 lb). All three judged the effect too small to be clinically meaningful and rated the underlying trials as low quality, with short follow-up and high risk of bias.
Individual trials do not change the picture. A small industry-funded pilot (Anton 2008, PMID 18715218, n=42) reported reduced food intake and cravings with a modest weight dip, but a larger placebo-controlled trial (Yazaki 2010, PMID 20105029, n=80) found no significant difference in weight, body composition, or insulin sensitivity over 24 weeks. No large, modern RCT has demonstrated a clinically relevant benefit.
Authorities align against weight-loss use. Europe's EFSA found no evidence of benefit and rejected chromium weight and appetite claims; the UK NHS says a balanced diet already supplies enough; the US FDA calls related claims highly uncertain. NIH ODS concedes only a very small change with little clinical significance, while Cleveland Clinic and Harvard Health do not recommend it. These converging findings produce the counter-evidence (Tier D) grade. Note that this concerns dietary trivalent chromium, distinct from carcinogenic hexavalent chromium.
Scoring transparency
All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
- compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.49
- tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
- apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (1 篇 > 0 negative)
- tier_strict_requirement_check — | C→D 因 scope.conflation_risk=true 且 L11 獨評較低 (B7-2 tier cap)
- detect_disputes — 偵測到 0 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
- decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status