Legacy AI grade · Sources dated 2026-06-01. Not expert reviewed. Coverage is limited to the listed sources. About the new summary workflow
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 20192914, 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