Effect of Chromium on Food Craving and Negative Emotions
Chromium, a crucial mineral found in foods like whole grain cereals, lean meats, cheeses, and some spices, plays a role in insulin and serotonin activity. It might also influence dopamine signaling, connecting to the control of food intake and energy balance.
Food cravings and negative emotions are recognized triggers for binge eating. Chromium treatment has been shown to improve mood, appetite, and glucose regulation in various psychiatric and medical patient populations. One study explored the potential of chromium in treating binge eating disorders by examining its impact on mood, appetite, and glucose regulation in overweight adults (1).
In this 6-month trial, 24 adults with binge eating disorder were randomly assigned to receive either a high dose (1000mcg) or a moderate dose (600mcg) of chromium picolinate, or a placebo. The study measured changes in binge frequency, psychopathology, weight, depression symptoms, and fasting glucose (1).
Both chromium groups showed a significant reduction in fasting glucose compared to the placebo group. Although not statistically significant, there were numerical reductions in binge frequency, weight, and depression symptoms in the chromium-treated groups. The high dose appeared more effective for fasting glucose. The binge frequency reductions were –1.65 (0.76) binges/month in the high dose group, –0.93 (0.70) binges/month in the moderate dose group, and –0.97 (0.78) binges/month in the placebo group (1).
These findings suggested the need for larger trials to explore chromium's effectiveness in regulating glucose, reducing binge eating, promoting weight loss, and alleviating depression in binge eating disorder individuals. Since chromium has clinical effects on insulin, serotonin, and dopamine pathways, if successful, chromium supplementation might offer a cost-effective alternative or augmentation to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for binge eating disorder treatment (1).
Chromium picolinate has also been reported to benefit patients with symptoms of atypical depression. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, pilot study of chromium supplementation was conducted in 15 patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder, atypical type. Patients received 600 micro g of chromium picolinate or placebo for 8 weeks (2).
Seven (70%) chromium picolinate and zero (0%) placebo patients met responder criteria (p =.02). Other outcomes were consistent with greater effect of chromium picolinate. Chromium picolinate was well tolerated. Chromium supplementation showed promising antidepressant effects in atypical depression. Its mechanism of action may relate to serotonin activity, insulin sensitivity, or to other effects (2).
In this pilot study, patients with atypical depression demonstrated a significant positive therapeutic response to chromium picolinate. This finding is of interest because of the demonstrated link between depression, decreased insulin sensitivity, and subsequent diabetes and chromium picolinate's insulin-enhancing effect (2).
In an 8-week study involving 113 adults with atypical depression, participants were given either 600 mcg/day of chromium picolinate or a placebo. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness using two scales: the 29-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D-29) and the Clinical Global Impressions Improvement Scale (CGI-I) (3).
Out of the 113 participants, 110 were part of the intent-to-treat (ITT) group, and 75 were evaluable. Both groups, chromium, and placebo, showed significant improvement from the start on the primary measures. However, in the evaluable group, those taking chromium showed significant improvement in specific areas like increased appetite, eating, carbohydrate craving, and diurnal variation of feelings compared to the placebo group (3).
Additional analysis focused on patients with high carbohydrate cravings showed that chromium led to a significantly greater response and improvement in specific areas compared to the placebo group. Overall, the study suggests that chromium supplementation, especially at 600 mcg, may be beneficial for adults with atypical depression, particularly those with severe carbohydrate cravings (3).
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder affects about 7% of women in their reproductive years, causing problems in relationships and lowering overall quality of life. About half of the women with this disorder do not respond well to medication. A study tried a new approach, giving women short-term chromium supplements to see if it would help with mood and physical symptoms related to their menstrual cycle (4).
The study involved five women in a private clinic and six women in a university research setting. They received either chromium alone or chromium with an antidepressant in different months. Participants reported reduced mood symptoms and improved overall health with chromium treatment. In some cases, chromium alone worked well, while in others, combining it with an antidepressant was more effective than using either treatment alone. These early findings suggested that chromium could be a helpful treatment on its own or in addition to other therapies for women experiencing significant menstrual cycle-related symptoms (4).
Alzheimer's disease is linked to problems with insulin resistance, and treatments that tackle insulin resistance issues have been shown to improve memory function in people with early Alzheimer's. Chromium, which helps with glucose disposal in patients with insulin resistance and diabetes, one study tried to see if it can boost memory in older adults with cognitive decline. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, 26 older adults were randomized to receive either chromium picolinate or placebo for 12 weeks. While chromium supplementation did not improve learning and retention, it did reduce interference in memory tasks. Brain scans also showed increased activity in certain areas for those taking chromium. These results suggested that chromium supplementation could enhance cognitive control and brain function in older adults at risk for neurodegeneration (5).
Binge eating, depression, and cognitive function impairment are all influenced by insulin sensitivity, involving serotonin and dopamine activity. Chromium has been explored as a treatment for type-2 diabetes and insulin-resistant conditions due to its insulin-sensitizing effects. Studies have shown the beneficial effects of chromium supplementation for individuals with complex eating, metabolic, and mood issues. It would be better to have more research to further confirm chromium's ability to regulate insulin, serotonin, and dopamine simultaneously and its benefits in reducing food carvings and negative emotions.
References:
1. Brownley KA, Von Holle A, Hamer RM, La Via M, Bulik CM. A double-blind, randomized pilot trial of chromium picolinate for binge eating disorder: results of the Binge Eating and Chromium (BEACh) study. J Psychosom Res. 2013 Jul;75(1):36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.03.092. Epub 2013 Apr 22. PMID: 23751236; PMCID: PMC4358897.
2. Davidson JR, Abraham K, Connor KM, McLeod MN. Effectiveness of chromium in atypical depression: a placebo-controlled trial. Biol Psychiatry. 2003 Feb 1;53(3):261-4. doi: 10.1016/s0006-3223(02)01500-7. PMID: 12559660.
3. Docherty JP, Sack DA, Roffman M, Finch M, Komorowski JR. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, exploratory trial of chromium picolinate in atypical depression: effect on carbohydrate craving. J Psychiatr Pract. 2005 Sep;11(5):302-14. doi: 10.1097/00131746-200509000-00004. PMID: 16184071.
4. Brownley KA, Girdler SS, Stout AL, McLeod MN. Chromium supplementation for menstrual cycle-related mood symptoms. J Diet Suppl. 2013 Dec;10(4):345-56. doi: 10.3109/19390211.2013.830678. PMID: 24237190.
5. Krikorian R, Eliassen JC, Boespflug EL, Nash TA, Shidler MD. Improved cognitive-cerebral function in older adults with chromium supplementation. Nutr Neurosci. 2010 Jun;13(3):116-22. doi: 10.1179/147683010X12611460764084. PMID: 20423560.
Skeletal formula of chromium(III) picolinate By Edgar181 - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1990842