Chromium is a mineral that is important for the normal functioning of the body. It helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels and it also helps in the production of energy. Chromium is found in food such as green vegetables, meat, whole grains, some fruits, and some types of nuts.
Metformin is a drug that lowers blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver. Metformin also decreases the absorption of glucose from food and slows intestinal absorption of glucose. Metformin may be used alone or with other medications to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus.
In the following sections, we’ll look at the pros and cons of chromium and metformin to see which one might be the right option for you.
Blood Sugar Effects
Metformin is by far the more effective option for blood sugar than chromium. It has been shown to reduce A1C levels by up to 1% in patients with Type 2 diabetes and it is less likely to cause hypoglycemia than other medications.
Metformin is the most prescribed oral anti-diabetic drug and it has been shown to be effective in reducing blood sugar levels. It has also been shown to reduce A1C levels by up to 1.5% in patients with Type 2 diabetes, which makes it a more effective medication than other medicines. The side effects of metformin are also less severe than those of other medications and are less likely to cause hypoglycemia.
Chromium can lower your blood sugar levels, but its effects are not as reliable nor as potent as those of Metformin.
Weight Loss Effects
Both chromium and metformin are prescribed for weight loss but there are some differences between them with regards to their effectiveness. Metformin has been found to be more effective than chromium for weight loss but it can also cause side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain.
Chromium does not have any known side effects (in studied dosages) but it may take a long time before you see any results from using this mineral alone – around six months or more, which is why some people use it in combination with metformin.
Longevity
Metformin has been found to increase lifespan in animals, while chromium has not been found to have any effect on lifespan in animals so far. There are some suggestions that Metformin may increase lifespan in humans too; secondary to its blood sugar-lowering effects. But the evidence is still not conclusive, and the risk of side effects is also there with Metformin (more on that below).
Safety
While Metformin might generally be more effective than chromium, it also comes with a greater risk of side effects.
Metformin may cause more side effects than chromium because it can interact with other medications and has been linked to kidney failure and lactic acidosis. Other side effects of Metformin might include nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a metallic taste in the mouth, among others.
Many people are turning to chromium as an alternative treatment for diabetes because it offers less risk of side effects than metformin.