I go to GNC and they have vitamins and stuff that are supposed to increase metabolism. Does chromium picolinate boost metabolism. Are they at all effective?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 01:56PM 
Don't bother taking supplements unless you eat less than 1200 calories a day, and then take a multivitamin. The supplement chromium picolinate is being touted as increasing metabolism but to date there is no supporting evidence for that claim. Chromium is necessary to make insulin, which is used to move glucose from the blood into cells.
Supplements that claim to boost metabolism are not regulated and the distributors are not required to provide any product history of their performance or side effects. The main ingredient in these supplements is caffeine which may increase the heart rate slightly and only momentarily. That is not enough to make a significant or lasting impact on a person’s metabolism.
Because of all the misinformation being given out over the checkout counters, some states regulate who can provide nutritional advice. Take a look at Nutrition Today magazine, which should be available in your local library or bookstore.
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Reader Comments (2)
As a fitness professional, I am also concerned with the public's misconceptions about metabolism and how to improve it. I find that people are still looking for some external quick fix for ridding themselves of excess body fat, and the diet industry continues to confuse and dupe them into poor supplement choices. The bottom line is that dietary habits must improve and exercise has to become a way of life. Our metabolism changes and improves according to how we eat and move, consistently. Some of the questions I think people should ask themselves is, "Is this a substance that is truly proven to help and not harm?", and “How long am I going to use this product to accomplish something that should happen with better lifestyle habits?" Nutritional Supplements, What Works... and Why, by Joe Cannon, MS, has become an easy to read, excellent resource for me in wading through the supplement confusion.
Thank you for recommending the book.