Chromium is well-known for its role in blood sugar balance.* This trace mineral promotes the healthy function of insulin, a hormone that acts as a key to unlock cells and allow glucose to enter.* As such, because Chromax works, in part by supporting healthy insulin function, it has been shown to support carbohydrate metabolism, help manage cravings and appetite, and promotes lean muscle maintenance during weight loss. This is why chromium — and in particular Everwell’s Chromax® chromium picolinate ingredient — has been popular among dieters for decades.* But could chromium’s ability to help regulate blood glucose also help fuel the brain?
Glucose is the Brain’s Fuel
The human brain is highly dependent on a continuous supply of glucose to function normally. In fact, it consumes more glucose than any other organ in the body, using half of the body’s total daily glucose supply.1
When it comes to blood glucose, balance is key. Too little disrupts communication between brain cells, which can impair attention and cognitive function. Too much can cause memory and cognitive issues.1 That’s why glucose delivery to the brain is tightly regulated, with stable glucose availability critical to meeting the brain’s energy demands.
The Brain Doesn’t Just Use Glucose — It Monitors It
The brain uses a mechanism called glucostatic appetite regulation to monitor circulating glucose levels. When levels drop, the body cues hunger signals to spur eating, which then replenishes glucose. Stable glucose levels in the body and the brain may reduce cravings and the urge to eat.
Recent research has identified a specialized group of neurons in the hypothalamus that are responsible for keeping blood sugar stable during routine daily activities and preventing it from dipping too low during sleep.2 Researchers have theorized that people who struggle with blood sugar regulation may have some dysfunction in this system.3
Chromium’s Established Role in Blood Sugar Regulation
Chromium picolinate is a supplemental form of chromium chelated with picolinic acid, which improves its bioavailability. Human clinical research shows that by supporting insulin signaling, chromium picolinate helps maintain stable glucose availability.*
A randomized placebo-controlled study with 180 participants found that supplementing with 1,000 mcg of chromium picolinate a day for four months supported healthy fasting blood glucose levels.*4 Dosages of both 200 mcg and 1,000 mcg daily helped promote healthy insulin function and maintained healthy levels of HbA1c, a measure of average blood glucose over the previous three months.*
Similarly, a peer-reviewed analysis on chromium picolinate confirmed this form of the mineral helps support healthy blood sugar levels and promote healthy insulin function.*5
The ability to help regulate blood sugar explains why Chromax® was shown in an 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to reduce carbohydrate cravings, which can be caused by drops in blood glucose.*6
The Bridge to the Brain
Chromium may influence not just how glucose gets into the cells of the body, but also the brain.* It has to do with glucose transporters. These specialized proteins help shuttle glucose across plasma membranes, so they’re essential for delivering fuel to the brain.
Preclinical research suggests that chromium chelates may influence glucose transporter levels — including GLUT1 and GLUT3, the primary transporters of glucose across the blood-brain barrier. This mechanism of action suggests the potential for a brain-specific benefit of chromium.*7
Corroborating this work, a 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 26 older adults published in the Journal of Nutritional Neuroscience found that 1,000 mcg of Chromax® was associated with improvements in brain glucose metabolism and measures of brain activation in older adults.*8,9
The Only Chromium Patent of Its Kind
Importantly, not all chromium ingredients are the same. In fact, Chromax® is the only form of chromium with a patent specifically covering the use of chromium complexes as enhancers of brain glucose transporters.
The patent is based on the finding that chromium can upregulate GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression in brain tissue through a pathway that is separate from insulin.* This discovery was surprising to researchers, since chromium is known primarily as an insulin cofactor. 10 It suggests that chromium may work on two fronts to fuel the brain: supporting the body’s glucose regulation through insulin and potentially acting directly on brain glucose transporters through a separate pathway.*
Why Brands Are Turning to Chromax®
Chromax® is a key ingredient in the evolving category of metabolic health, offering several advantages over other forms of chromium:
- Superior bioavailability: Up to 15 times higher than other forms of chromium
- Strong IP portfolio: 9 patents and patents pending
- Clinically researched: Backed by 35 human clinical studies
- USP grade: meets USP specifications for identity, strength, quality, and purity
- Versatile: Easily incorporated into tablets, capsules, powders, beverages, and bars
With its clinical credibility, differentiated IP, and strong brand recognition, Chromax® is a perfect fit for modern metabolic formulas.
Discover more about the science, benefits, and applications of Chromax®
References
1. Scott Edwards. Harvard Medical School. 2026. https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/sugar-brain
2. Sen A. Michigan Medicine. August 20, 2025. https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/brain-neurons-are-responsible-day-day-control-blood-sugar
3. Alonge KM, D’Alessio DA, Schwartz MW. Diabetologia. 2021;64(1):5-14. doi:10.1007/s00125-020-05293-3
4. Anderson RA, Cheng N, Bryden NA, et al. Diabetes. 1997;46(11):1786-1791. doi:10.2337/diab.46.11.1786
5. Althuis MD, Jordan NE, Ludington EA, Wittes JT. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002;76(1):148-155. doi:10.1093/ajcn/76.1.148
6. Docherty JP, Sack DA, Roffman M, Finch M, Komorowski JR. J Psychiatr Pract. 2005;11(5):302-314. doi:10.1097/00131746-200509000-00004
7. Sahin K, Tuzcu M, Orhan C, et al. Life Sci. 2013;93(25-26):1039-1048. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2013.10.009
8. Krikorian R, Eliassen JC, Boespflug EL, Nash TA, Shidler MD. Nutr Neurosci. 2010;13(3):116-122. doi:10.1179/147683010X12611460764084
9. PR Newswire. October 6, 2010. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clinical-study-results-show-nutrition-21s-chromaxr-chromium-picolinate-improves-cognitive-cerebral-function-in-older-adults-92972569.html
10. Komorowski JR. Published online April 26, 2012:US20120100228A1. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20120100228/en
