{
  "dataset": "chromium-cost-by-brand",
  "title": "Chromium Supplements Compared — form, dose vs the adequate intake, and cost per serving",
  "sourcePage": "https://verifiedsupplementdata.com/chromium/best-overall/",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verified Supplement Data (2026), Chromium Cost & Form Comparison",
  "dateModified": "2026-07-17",
  "methodology": "mcgPerServing = chromium micrograms per serving; multipleOfAI = mcg / the ~35 mcg adequate intake (chromium has no RDA or Upper Limit). \"verdict\": picolinate (the most-studied form) / gtf-polynicotinate (yeast or niacin-bound) / chelate / blend. IMPORTANT: picolinate is NOT meaningfully better absorbed — a radiolabeled study found all trivalent-chromium forms absorb similarly poorly (~1% in humans; Laschinsky 2012, PMID 22814636), so form choice is largely about marketing, and the identical picolinate dose ranges widely in price (brand, not formulation). EVIDENCE CONTEXT (structure/function only; modest, MIXED): meta-analyses in people WITH diabetes disagree — one found a small HbA1c/glucose reduction (Suksomboon 2014, PMID 24635480), another found no significant HbA1c effect (Yin 2015, PMID 25971249), and a review concluded \"limited effectiveness\" (Costello 2016, PMID 27261273). Weight effect is small and of uncertain relevance (~0.5 kg; Onakpoya 2013, PMID 23495911). Chromium is NOT an established treatment for diabetes, weight loss, or cravings. Rare renal case reports exist at high-dose picolinate. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA; these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.",
  "headline": {
    "productsCompared": 11,
    "aiMcg": 35,
    "picolinate": 7,
    "gtfPolynicotinate": 2,
    "chelate": 1,
    "blends": 1,
    "cheapestPicolinatePerServing": 0.042,
    "cheapestPicolinateBrand": "Nutricost",
    "picolinatePriceSpread": {
      "low": 0.042,
      "high": 0.333
    },
    "note": "Every chromium product here is 6-29x the ~35 mcg you need, and all forms absorb about the same (~1%). The identical picolinate dose ranges from about $0.04 to $0.33 per serving — that spread is brand, not formulation."
  },
  "columns": [
    "brand",
    "product",
    "slug",
    "form",
    "verdict",
    "mcgPerServing",
    "multipleOfAI",
    "servings",
    "price",
    "costPerServing",
    "thirdParty"
  ],
  "units": {
    "mcgPerServing": "mcg chromium",
    "price": "USD",
    "costPerServing": "USD/serving"
  },
  "citations": [
    {
      "claim": "All trivalent-chromium forms absorb similarly poorly (~1% in humans); picolinate not better.",
      "source": "Laschinsky N, et al. 2012, Biometals",
      "pmid": "22814636"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Meta-analysis in diabetics: small HbA1c (-0.55%) and fasting-glucose reduction.",
      "source": "Suksomboon N, et al. 2014, J Clin Pharm Ther",
      "pmid": "24635480"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Meta-analysis: no significant HbA1c effect pooled across forms.",
      "source": "Yin RV, Phung OJ 2015, Nutr J",
      "pmid": "25971249"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Weight effect small (-0.50 kg), clinical relevance uncertain.",
      "source": "Onakpoya I, et al. 2013, Obes Rev",
      "pmid": "23495911"
    }
  ],
  "products": [
    {
      "brand": "BulkSupplements",
      "product": "Chromium GTF Powder (Polynicotinate) 25 g",
      "slug": "bulksupplements-gtf-powder",
      "form": "Chromium polynicotinate (GTF)",
      "mcgPerServing": 200,
      "multipleOfAI": 6,
      "servings": 500,
      "price": 18.97,
      "costPerServing": 0.038,
      "verdict": "gtf-polynicotinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Nutricost",
      "product": "Chromium (Picolinate) 1000 mcg (240 Tablets)",
      "slug": "nutricost-chromium-1000",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 1000,
      "multipleOfAI": 29,
      "servings": 240,
      "price": 9.99,
      "costPerServing": 0.042,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "NOW Foods",
      "product": "NOW Chromium Picolinate 200 mcg (250 Veg Capsules)",
      "slug": "now-chromium-picolinate-200",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 200,
      "multipleOfAI": 6,
      "servings": 250,
      "price": 11.62,
      "costPerServing": 0.046,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Solaray",
      "product": "GTF Chromium 200 mcg (200 VegCaps)",
      "slug": "solaray-gtf-chromium",
      "form": "GTF/yeast-based chromium",
      "mcgPerServing": 200,
      "multipleOfAI": 6,
      "servings": 200,
      "price": 13.59,
      "costPerServing": 0.068,
      "verdict": "gtf-polynicotinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Solgar",
      "product": "Chromium Picolinate 200 mcg (180 Veg Capsules)",
      "slug": "solgar-chromium-200",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 200,
      "multipleOfAI": 6,
      "servings": 180,
      "price": 19.66,
      "costPerServing": 0.109,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Nature's Bounty",
      "product": "Chromium Picolinate 800 mcg (50 Tablets)",
      "slug": "natures-bounty-chromium-800",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 800,
      "multipleOfAI": 23,
      "servings": 50,
      "price": 5.68,
      "costPerServing": 0.114,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Bluebonnet",
      "product": "Chelated Chromium (Albion) 200 mcg (90 Caps)",
      "slug": "bluebonnet-chelated-chromium",
      "form": "Chromium nicotinate glycinate (chelate)",
      "mcgPerServing": 200,
      "multipleOfAI": 6,
      "servings": 90,
      "price": 11.96,
      "costPerServing": 0.133,
      "verdict": "chelate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Bluebonnet",
      "product": "Chromium Picolinate 500 mcg (100 Caps)",
      "slug": "bluebonnet-chromium-picolinate-500",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 500,
      "multipleOfAI": 14,
      "servings": 100,
      "price": 22.36,
      "costPerServing": 0.224,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Micro Ingredients",
      "product": "Berberine with Ceylon Cinnamon + Chromium (240 Veg Caps)",
      "slug": "micro-ingredients-berberine-chromium",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate (in berberine blend)",
      "mcgPerServing": 200,
      "multipleOfAI": 6,
      "servings": 80,
      "price": 21.56,
      "costPerServing": 0.269,
      "verdict": "blend",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Pure Encapsulations",
      "product": "Chromium (Picolinate) 500 mcg (60 Capsules)",
      "slug": "pure-encapsulations-chromium-500",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 500,
      "multipleOfAI": 14,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 19.5,
      "costPerServing": 0.325,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "None"
    },
    {
      "brand": "Thorne",
      "product": "Chromium Picolinate 500 mcg (60 Capsules)",
      "slug": "thorne-chromium-500",
      "form": "Chromium picolinate",
      "mcgPerServing": 500,
      "multipleOfAI": 14,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 20,
      "costPerServing": 0.333,
      "verdict": "picolinate",
      "thirdParty": "Third-party certified"
    }
  ]
}