DRUGS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Chromagic™

March 22, 2017

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Chromagic™

Natural Standard Monograph, Copyright © 2013 (www.naturalstandard.com). Commercial distribution prohibited. This monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. You should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.

Related Terms

  • Biotin, Brantford and Stratford Herbal Magic®, Chromagic™, chromium, chromium picolinate, Herbal Magic®, vanadium, vitamin B6, WM-2000™.

Background

  • Chromagic™, manufactured by Herbal Magic®, is a dietary supplement that contains chromium, vanadium, biotin, and vitamin B6.

  • According to manufacturer data, Chromagic™ is designed to assist in weight loss, proper insulin functioning, and blood sugar regulation. It may also help decrease appetite and sugar cravings, increase muscle mass, regulate cholesterol, and help break down carbohydrates, fats, and protein. However, sufficient evidence on the safety and effectiveness is currently unavailable to make a conclusion on the use of Chromagic™ for these indications.

  • Some research is available on the individual ingredients in Chromagic™.

Theory/Evidence

  • General: According to manufacturer data, Chromagic™ is designed to assist in weight loss, proper insulin functioning, and blood sugar regulation. It may help decrease appetite and sugar cravings, increase muscle mass, regulate cholesterol, and assist in the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. However, available evidence supporting these claims is lacking.

  • Some research is available on the individual ingredients.

  • Chromium: The main ingredient, chromium, is an essential trace element typically found in foods, such as egg yolks, coffee, green beans, nuts, and whole-grain products.

  • Good evidence supports the use of chromium for the treatment of diabetes and high blood sugar levels. It may also help regulate blood sugar levels in patients with low blood sugar disorders. Additionally, chromium picolinate may help improve glucose tolerance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. However, chromium does not appear to alter hormones.

  • Chromium has also been suggested as beneficial for bipolar disorder, bone loss (in postmenopausal women), heart disease, cognitive function, depression, glucose intolerance, high cholesterol, immune disorders, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. However, research in these areas is unclear or conflicting.

  • Although chromium may help improve lean body mass (by reducing fat and increasing muscle), available evidence suggests that it may not be an effective therapy for obesity.

  • Vanadium: Some research suggests that vanadium may have insulin-mimetic effects. Long-term treatment was shown to decrease blood sugar, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels. However, the potential short and long-term vanadium toxicity has slowed the acceptance of this agent for medicinal use.

  • Vitamin B6: Vitamin B-6 is involved in many bodily functions and is an essential metabolite in humans. Vitamin B-6 is available in many forms, including pryidoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine.

  • Strong evidence supports the use of vitamin B6 for hereditary sideroblastic anemia, cycloserine side effects, pyridoxine deficiency, and pyridoxine-dependent seizures in newborns.

  • It has also bee suggested as possibly beneficial for akathisia, angioplasty, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), birth outcomes, cancer prevention, heart disease, carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, hyperkinetic cerebral dysfunction syndrome, immune function, kidney stones, lactation suppression, pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting, PMS, preventing vitamin B6 deficiency associated with birth control pills, and tardive dyskinesia. However, evidence of effectiveness is unclear or conflicting in these areas.

  • Some evidence suggests that vitamin B6 may aid in carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. Preliminary studies indicate that vitamin B-6 may have antioxidant effects. However, additional research is needed before conclusions can be made in these areas.

  • Available evidence suggests that vitamin B6 may not improve autism or prevent stroke recurrence.

  • Biotin: Biotin is an essential water-soluble B vitamin involved in the break down of lipids and carbohydrates and production of energy. Without biotin, certain enzymes do not work properly, resulting in various complications involving the skin, intestinal tract, and nervous system.

  • Strong evidence supports the use of biotin for biotin deficiency and biotin-responsive inborn errors of metabolism.

  • In early research, biotin has been reported to decrease insulin resistance and improve glucose tolerance, which are both properties that may be beneficial in patients with type 2 diabetes. Evidence suggests that when combined with chromium, biotin may improve glycemic control in overweight type 2 diabetic patients. However, there is not enough human evidence to form a clear conclusion in this area.

  • Biotin has also been suggested as beneficial for brittle fingernails, heart disease, hepatitis (in alcoholics), and pregnancy supplementation. However, evidence is unclear of conflicting in these areas.

Safety

  • General: Patients with a known allergies or hypersensitivities to ingredients in Chromagic™ (such as chromium, vanadium, biotin, and vitamin B6) should avoid using the product. Children or pregnant or lactating women should also avoid using Chromagic™ due to a lack of safety information for this product.

  • Chromium: Chromium, in its trivalent form, appears to be well tolerated in healthy adults when adequate intake guidelines are followed. Adverse effects are reportedly rare or uncommon. However, the hexavalent form is not well tolerated and may be toxic. Hexavalent chromium appears to be associated with lung cancers, skin problems, and nasal septum perforations.

  • The most common complaints of chromium use include stomach discomfort and nausea or vomiting. Rarely, skin rashes, insomnia or sleep disturbances, headaches, mood changes, muscle damage, or anemia may occur. Adverse effects on the heart, blood, kidneys, or liver may also occur. Additionally, there are rare reports of respiratory effects, such as cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, rhinitis, and asthma, after inhaling chromium.

  • Chromium has been shown to decrease serotonin levels and may interfere with liver enzymes. Early data suggest that chromium, in combination with copper, may have potential suppressive effects on the immune system. Therefore, caution should be used in patients with suppressed immune systems. Patients taking oral drugs for diabetes or using insulin should be monitored closely by their healthcare professionals while using chromium. Chromium may increase blood pressure; caution is advised in patients taking medications that alter blood pressure. In theory, zinc may decrease chromium levels in the body and may interfere with chromium. It is possible that vitamin C may also alter chromium levels. Chromium taken with iron may affect the way iron is processed in the body.

  • Vanadium: Information about vanadium toxicity is limited. According to secondary sources, toxic effects may develop in workers exposed to vanadium dust. High blood levels of vanadium have been linked to manic-depressive mental disorders. In animals, vanadium sometimes inhibits, but at other times stimulates, cancer growth. However, the effect in humans remains unknown.

  • Vitamin B6: Some individuals seem to be particularly sensitive to vitamin B6 and may have problems at lower doses. Overall, pyridoxine is generally considered safe in adults and children when used appropriately at recommended doses. Avoid excessive dosing. Acne, skin reactions, allergic reactions, photosensitivity, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, increased liver enzymes, headache, paresthesia, somnolence, and sensory neuropathy have been reported. Breast soreness or enlargement, decreased serum folic acid levels, seizures after large doses, hypotonia, and respiratory distress in infants have also been reported. Theoretically, herbs and supplements with estrogen-like activity may interact with vitamin B6. Patients taking anticonvulsants should avoid high doses of vitamin B6 and biotin.

  • Biotin: Significant toxicity with biotin intake has not been reported in the available literature, and very high doses have been used in patients with inborn errors of metabolism without reported toxicity. However, doses higher than the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board's recommended daily Adequate Intake (AI) should not be exceeded in healthy individuals unless under medical supervision. Eating raw egg whites on a regular basis increases the risk of biotin deficiency. High doses of pantothenic acid may lead to malabsorption of biotin in the gut and may lower levels of biotin in the body.

Author Information

  • This information has been edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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  2. Cefalu WT, Hu FB. Role of chromium in human health and in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004 Nov;27(11):2741-51. View Abstract

  3. Chromagic™ product monograph. Herbal Magic® Weight Loss and Nutrition Centers, 2008.

  4. Domingo JL. Vanadium and tungsten derivatives as antidiabetic agents: a review of their toxic effects. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2002 Aug;88(2):97-112. View Abstract.

  5. Ehrenshaft M, Bilski P, Li MY, et al. A highly conserved sequence is a novel gene involved in de novo vitamin B6 biosynthesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Aug 3;96(16):9374-8. View Abstract

  6. Kaats GR, Blum K, Pullin D, and et al. A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study of the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a replication and extension of a previous study. Current Therapeutic Research 1998;59(6):379-388.

  7. Kaats GR, Blum K, Fisher JA, and et al. Effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on body composition: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study. Current Therapeutic Research 1996;57(10):747-756.

  8. Katz, SA and Salem, H. The toxicology of chromium with respect to its chemical speciation: a review. J Appl Toxicol 1993;13(3):217-224. View Abstract

  9. Mao X, Zhang L, Xia Q, et al. Vanadium-enriched chickpea sprout ameliorated hyperglycemia and impaired memory in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Biometals. 2008 Oct;21(5):563-70. View Abstract

  10. Mertz, W. Chromium in human nutrition: a review. J Nutr. 1993 Apr;123(4):626-33. View Abstract

  11. Mooney S, Leuendorf JE, Hendrickson C, et al. Vitamin b6: a long known compound of surprising complexity. Molecules 2009 Jan 12;14(1):329-51. View Abstract

  12. Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com.

  13. Preuss HG, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, et al. Effects of a natural extract of (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA-SX) and a combination of HCA-SX plus niacin-bound chromium and Gymnema sylvestre extract on weight loss. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2004 May;6(3):171-80. View Abstract

  14. Racek J, Trefil L, Rajdl D, et al. Influence of chromium-enriched yeast on blood glucose and insulin variables, blood lipids, and markers of oxidative stress in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Biol.Trace Elem.Res. 2006;109(3):215-230. View Abstract

  15. Raschle T, Arigoni D, Brunisholz R, Reaction mechanism of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate synthase. Detection of an enzyme-bound chromophoric intermediate. J Biol Chem. 2007 Mar 2;282(9):6098-105. Epub 2006 Dec 21. View Abstract

Copyright © 2013 Natural Standard (www.naturalstandard.com)

The information in this monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. Information is based on review of scientific research data, historical practice patterns, and clinical experience. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions.

Updated:  

March 22, 2017