Form Comparison

Chromium Chloride vs Chromium Picolinate

How chromium chloride and chromium picolinate differ in elemental content, absorption, tolerance, and cost.

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Quick verdict. All chromium absorbs poorly (about 0.4-2.5%), but picolinate absorbs better than chloride and is the form used in most glucose trials. Chloride is the most poorly absorbed common form and appears mainly in multivitamins and IV nutrition, where absorption does not apply. If you take chromium for glucose control, choose picolinate, and know that the trial results remain inconsistent.

Side by Side

Chromium Chloride Chromium Picolinate
Elemental content 19.5% elemental chromium 12.4% elemental chromium
Absorption Low Low
How it is absorbed Inorganic trivalent chromium; the most poorly absorbed common form. Chromium absorption is low for all forms, roughly 0.4-2.5%. Picolinate is absorbed somewhat better than chromium chloride.
Typical dose Found in multivitamins at 35-120 mcg 200-1,000 mcg daily in glucose trials
Common uses multivitamins, parenteral nutrition blood glucose support (mixed evidence)
Side effects Well tolerated at multivitamin doses. Rare case reports of kidney and liver injury at high doses.
Cost Low Low
Also called chromic chloride Chromax
Labels in index 9 325

When to Choose Chromium Chloride

Choose chromium chloride when it comes in a multivitamin. Used in parenteral nutrition, where absorption does not apply.

Chromium Chloride

Choose chromium chloride when it comes in a multivitamin.

What to look for: Chromium Chloride named on the Supplement Facts panel, with the amount per serving stated.

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When to Choose Chromium Picolinate

Choose chromium picolinate when you want the most studied form. The most studied form. Trial results for glycemic control are inconsistent.

Chromium Picolinate

The form in nearly all of the positive trials, which are few and dated. Not a substitute for diabetes treatment.

What to look for: 200 mcg or less. Tell the prescriber if you use insulin or a sulfonylurea.

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Products on Titrate

In Titrate's index of NIH label data, 9 labels named as chromium products list chromium chloride and 325 list chromium picolinate.

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Chromium does not have its own search category yet. Each product above links to its full label in the NIH database.

Related

References

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Chromium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.

Stearns DM, et al. Chromium(III) picolinate produces chromosome damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells. FASEB J. 1995;9(15):1643-1648.

Anderson RA, et al. Elevated intakes of supplemental chromium improve glucose and insulin variables in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. 1997;46(11):1786-1791.

Althuis MD, et al. Glucose and insulin responses to dietary chromium supplements: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76(1):148-155.

Trumbo PR, Ellwood KC. Chromium picolinate intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: an evidence-based review by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Nutr Rev. 2006;64(8 Pt 1):357-363.

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for chromium. EFSA J. 2014;12(10):3845.

Costello RB, et al. Chromium supplements for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes: limited evidence of effectiveness. Nutr Rev. 2016;74(7):455-468.