Blood Sugar Support

What this is. A botanical and mineral blend aimed at people already watching their blood sugar. It is not a substitute for anything a doctor has told you to take.

148 mcg of chromium per two-capsule serving, which is the ingredient this category is bought for. Everything else on the panel is a basic vitamin and mineral blend at multivitamin-sized amounts.

What you are actually getting, per 2 capsules

• Vitamin C — 100 mg
• Vitamin E — 10 mg
• Biotin — 600 mcg
• Magnesium (as oxide) — 23 mg
• Zinc (as oxide) — 7.5 mg
• Manganese — 1 mg
• Chromium (form not stated on the panel) — 148 mcg

Nothing here is an extract, so there is no standardisation arithmetic to show. What is missing is the form of the chromium: the panel says chromium, 148 mcg, and does not say whether that is picolinate, polynicotinate, chloride or something else. The magnesium and the zinc are both oxides, which are the cheapest forms and are absorbed less efficiently than citrates or glycinates.

Worth knowing before you buy

Chromium studies generally use 200 mcg to 1,000 mcg a day, most often as chromium picolinate. This serving is 148 mcg of an unstated form, so it is below the bottom of that range and the label does not let you check whether it matches the material used in the research. That is why this product is not in our weight-metabolism collection.

The rest of the panel is worth seeing for what it is. 23 mg of magnesium is a small fraction of what a magnesium supplement contains. 7.5 mg of zinc and 1 mg of manganese are multivitamin amounts. Read plainly, this is a light multivitamin with a sub-research amount of chromium in it, and we would rather describe it that way than lean on the name on the front.

How to take it

Two capsules a day with water. Sixty capsules in the bottle at two a day, which is 30 days.

Other ingredients

Gelatin. The capsules are gelatin, which is animal-derived, so this is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. The panel does not state the animal source of the gelatin. It declares no allergens.

Cautions

If you take insulin or any medicine that affects blood sugar, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before adding chromium, and do not change any prescribed dose on your own. Biotin at 600 mcg can interfere with laboratory blood tests that use biotin-based immunoassays, including some thyroid and troponin tests, so tell whoever takes your blood that you are taking it. Zinc reduces the absorption of tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics, so separate them by at least two hours. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not use if the safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place. Do not exceed the recommended dose. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18, taking prescription medication or living with a medical condition, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before starting this or any supplement.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.