Ingredient profile
Chromium and Zinc in Slim Metrix: The Two Amounts You Can See
Each Slim Metrix capsule lists chromium (as chromium picolinate) at 50 mcg and zinc (as zinc gluconate) at 5.5 mg. The label calls the chromium 41.67% of the Daily Value, but that uses an old reference; against today's 35 mcg it is about 143%. Weight trials of chromium found very small effects.
Written by the Slim Metrix editorial teamUpdated
Label facts
How much chromium and zinc are in Slim Metrix?
One capsule lists 50 mcg of chromium and 5.5 mg of zinc. These are the only two ingredients with printed amounts; the other eight share a 276 mg blend (Slim Metrix label graphic).
Minerals with a Daily Value must be listed on their own with their amounts, which is why these two stand apart from the blend (FDA: labeling guide (proprietary blends)). The label prints chromium as 0.05 mg. That is the same as 50 mcg, since 1 mg equals 1,000 mcg.
| On the label | Per capsule | What research used | Main caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium (as chromium picolinate) | 50 mcg (label: 41.67% DV; about 143% of today's 35 mcg DV) | Weight trials: about 0.5 to 1.1 kg more loss than placebo | May add to the glucose-lowering effect of insulin or metformin. (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet) (Onakpoya et al.: chromium and weight (meta-analysis)) |
| Zinc (as zinc gluconate) | 5.5 mg (50% DV) | Daily need 11 mg (men) or 8 mg (women); adult upper limit 40 mg | Too much over time lowers copper; it can reduce absorption of some antibiotics. 5.5 mg is far under the 40 mg limit. (NIH ODS: zinc fact sheet) |
The %DV problem
Why does the Slim Metrix label say 41.67% for chromium?
Because it uses an old Daily Value of 120 mcg. Today's Daily Value for chromium is 35 mcg, so 50 mcg is about 143% of it (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet).
The math is simple. 50 divided by 120 is 41.67%. 50 divided by 35 is about 143%. Same capsule, same 50 mcg; only the yardstick changed. Adults need about 20 to 35 mcg of chromium a day (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet), so one capsule covers more than a day's need on its own.
| Reference | Daily Value | 50 mcg equals |
|---|---|---|
| Printed on the label | 120 mcg (old) | 41.67% |
| Current FDA Daily Value | 35 mcg | About 143% |
| Adult daily need | 20 to 35 mcg | More than a full day |
If you also take a multivitamin, check its chromium line before you add Slim Metrix. The Supplement Facts page walks through every line.
The research
Does chromium help with weight loss?
Barely. Across three pooled analyses, chromium added about 1 to 2.4 pounds of loss over placebo, and every set of authors called the effect small or of uncertain value.
| Analysis | Extra weight loss | Authors' verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 11 trials (2013) | About 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) | Small, relevance uncertain (Onakpoya et al.: chromium and weight (meta-analysis)) |
| 21 trials, 1,316 adults (2019) | About 0.75 kg (1.7 lb); BMI 0.40 lower; body fat 0.68% lower | Relevance uncertain (Tsang et al.: chromium and body measures (meta-analysis)) |
| NIH summary of reviews | About 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) | Debatable clinical relevance (NIH ODS: weight-loss supplements (health professional fact sheet)) |
The NIH chromium fact sheet calls the 0.75 kg result "very small" (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet). Here is where chromium sits next to the options with stronger evidence:
Eating plan + activity + support
StrongNIDDK's recipe for a safe program, aiming for 5-10% of starting weight in 6 months; losing 1-2 lb a week is more likely to last. (NIDDK: choosing a safe weight-loss program) (CDC: losing weight)
Lifestyle program: 7% weight loss + 150 min a week
StrongCut new type 2 diabetes by 58% in the Diabetes Prevention Program (71% at 60+). (NIDDK: Diabetes Prevention Program results) (NIDDK: prediabetes and insulin resistance)
Metformin, if a doctor prescribes it
StrongCut new type 2 diabetes by 31% in the same trial, less than the lifestyle program. (NIDDK: Diabetes Prevention Program results)
Berberine at study doses (500-1,500 mg a day)
Small, low qualityWaist about 3.3 cm smaller and fasting glucose a little lower in pooled trials; the BMI effect did not hold up. (Liu et al.: berberine and metabolic measures (meta-analysis)) (LiverTox: berberine)
Chromium picolinate
Very smallAbout 0.5 to 1.1 kg more than placebo; its clinical relevance is debated. (Onakpoya et al.: chromium and weight (meta-analysis)) (NIH ODS: weight-loss supplements (health professional fact sheet))
Green tea extract
Very smallSmall, non-significant loss in a Cochrane review; outside Japan about 0.04 kg. (Cochrane review: green tea and weight)
Slim Metrix itself
No trialsNo published study of this product; 8 ingredients share 276 mg. (FTC: Health Products Compliance Guidance) (Slim Metrix label graphic)
Bar length shows how much published evidence supports each option for losing weight and keeping blood sugar in a healthy range, based on the guidelines and reviews linked here. A reading aid, not a score from any one source.
Read the full story in our chromium research article.
Safety first
Is chromium safe if you take diabetes medicine?
Ask your doctor first. Chromium may add to the glucose-lowering effect of insulin or metformin (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet), and Slim Metrix also lists alpha-lipoic acid and Korean ginseng, which may lower blood sugar too.
For many people with diabetes, a low means a reading under 70 mg/dL. Shakiness, hunger, dizziness, confusion, a racing heartbeat and blurred vision are common signs, and the risk is higher with insulin and sulfonylurea pills (NIDDK: low blood glucose).
If your doctor says yes, ask how often to check your glucose in the first weeks. Keep taking every prescribed medicine as directed. Never use Slim Metrix in place of one.
Zinc
Is 5.5 mg of zinc a safe amount?
For most adults, yes. 5.5 mg is half the Daily Value and about 14% of the 40 mg upper limit for adults from all sources (NIH ODS: zinc fact sheet).
Adult men need 11 mg of zinc a day and women 8 mg. The 40 mg limit counts food, multivitamins and anything else with zinc (NIH ODS: zinc fact sheet).
- Too much over time can lower copper levels in the body.
- Antibiotics: zinc can reduce how well quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics are absorbed. Ask your pharmacist how to space them.
- Weight: zinc is a nutrient need. No source on this site shows it helps with weight loss.
Claim check
Does chromium stop cravings?
No source cited on this site shows that it does. The sales page says the formula supports "balanced appetite and reduced cravings" (Sales page, quickslimstep.com/frt), but that is the seller's claim.
Chromium is often sold for blood sugar and cravings. The trials summarized above measured weight, and the gain was small. If cravings are a struggle, NIDDK's advice still applies: a reduced-calorie eating plan you can live with, more activity and real support (NIDDK: choosing a safe weight-loss program). Our how-to-use guide shows how to fit one capsule into a steady routine.
The rest of the formula
What is in the Slim Metrix blend besides chromium and zinc?
Eight more ingredients share the 276 mg blend. Each has its own page.
FAQ
Chromium and zinc in Slim Metrix: common questions
How much chromium is in Slim Metrix?
Each capsule lists 50 mcg of chromium as chromium picolinate, printed as 0.05 mg (Slim Metrix label graphic). The label calls that 41.67% of the Daily Value, based on an old 120 mcg reference. Measured against today's 35 mcg Daily Value, the same 50 mcg works out to about 143% (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet).
Is chromium picolinate safe?
The cited sources flag one main concern: diabetes medicine. Chromium may add to the glucose-lowering effect of insulin or metformin (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet). If you take either, or any other diabetes medicine, ask your doctor before you start and watch for lows.
Can I take Slim Metrix with a multivitamin?
Possibly, but add up the minerals first. Many multivitamins contain chromium and zinc too. Adults should stay under 40 mg of zinc a day from all sources (NIH ODS: zinc fact sheet), and one capsule already gives more than a day's chromium need. Show both labels to your pharmacist.
Can I take Slim Metrix with antibiotics?
Ask your pharmacist about timing. The zinc in Slim Metrix can reduce how well quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics are absorbed (NIH ODS: zinc fact sheet). A pharmacist can tell you how many hours to leave between the antibiotic and the capsule, or whether to pause the capsule during the course.
Why is zinc in Slim Metrix?
The label lists 5.5 mg of zinc as zinc gluconate, half the Daily Value (Slim Metrix label graphic), but it does not say why. Zinc is an essential mineral; adults need 8 to 11 mg a day (NIH ODS: zinc fact sheet). No source cited on this site shows that zinc helps with weight loss.
Can chromium cause low blood sugar?
On its own the cited sources do not say so, but with insulin or metformin it may add to their glucose-lowering effect (NIH ODS: chromium fact sheet). A reading below 70 mg/dL counts as low for many people with diabetes (NIDDK: low blood glucose). Talk with your doctor before you combine the two.
Who wrote this
Written and reviewed by
Plain-language pages built from the brand's label graphic, the sales page and linked medical sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for Slim Metrix, not by the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
Keep reading
More about Slim Metrix
Supplement Facts
Every line of the Slim Metrix label typed out, with the chromium DV fix and what the label leaves out.
Read moreChromium research
Three pooled analyses of chromium and weight, what a 1.7-pound edge means, and the out-of-date %DV on the Slim Metrix label.
Read more
How to use
The dose, the best time of day, missed doses, other supplements and a simple way to track 60 days.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for Slim Metrix
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