In a placebo-controlled, cross-over study, researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center showed that overweight African-American women consuming 600 mcg chromium as niacin-bound chromium (ChromeMate®) for 8 weeks had a significant loss of body fat and sparing of muscle (lean body mass) compared with a prior placebo period of the same duration. Increased fat loss was also observed among women who were randomized to consume chromium first, followed by placebo, suggesting a carry-over effect of the supplementation on fat loss. No adverse effects were observed.

Source: Crawford V, Scheckenbach R, Preuss HG, Effects of Niacin-Bound Chromium Supplementation on Body Composition in Overweight African-American Women, Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, 1:331-337, 1999.