Journal of Isfahan Medical School

Journal of Isfahan Medical School

The effect of chromium administration on mean serum levels of HbA1C, FBS and 2hpp in diabetic patients: A double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
2 Assistant Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
4 Resident of Internal Diseases, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
10.48305/jims.v43.i846.1877
Abstract
Introduction: According to the results of conflicting studies regarding the role of chromium in diabetes, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of chromium drug administration on the mean serum levels of HbA1C, FBS and 2hpp in diabetic patients.
Methods: In this clinical trial study, 50 diabetic patients referred to the diabetes clinic and specialized clinic of Valiasr Hospital in Birjand in 1402 were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: 1. receiving routine medication and chromium medication (A) and 2. control (B) receiving routine medication. Selection and placement of patients in two groups was simple random and block method. At the beginning and end of the study, 5 cc of blood samples were taken from the patients and parameters of FBS, 2hpp, HbA1C and lipid profile were evaluated.
Findings:
At the end of the study, the mean serum level of FBS (P=0.002) and 2hpp (P=0.043) in the intervention group was significantly lower than the control group. The mean serum levels of triglycerides and HDL at the beginning and end of the study, LDL and cholesterol at the beginning of the study were not significantly different between the two studied groups (P>0.05). At the end of the study, the mean serum level of cholesterol (P<0.001) and LDL (P=0.007) in the intervention group was significantly reduced compared to the control group.
Discussion: Chromium supplementation led to a significant decrease in the serum levels of FBS, 2hpp, cholesterol and LDL in diabetic patients.

Highlights

Anahita Arian : Google Scholar

Keywords

Subjects


1.     Association AD. 2. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes: standards of medical care in diabetes—2019. Diabetes Care 2019;4 2(Suppl 1): S13-S28.
2.     Wang L, Yu Y, Tao T, Zhang J, Gao W. The self-care dilemma of type 2 diabetic patients: The mechanism of self-regulation resource depletion. PLoS One 2018; 13(12): e0208690.
3.     raeisi r, zia jahromi n. Relationship between serum levels of chromium and iron with transferrin and albumin levels as carrier proteins in diabetic patients with atherosclerosis [in Persian]. Razi Journal of Medical Sciences 2019; 26(5): 96-103.
4.     Marjani A, Moradi A, Saeedi M. Plasma lipid peroxidation zinc and erythrocyte Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Gorgan City (South East of the Caspian Sea). J Med Sci 2007; 7(4): 585-90.
5.     Hazar N, Jokar M, Namavari N, Hosseini S, Rahmanian V. An updated systematic review and Meta-analysis of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Iran, 1996–2023. Front Public Health 2024; 12: 1322072.
6.     Mirzaei M, Rahmaninan M, Mirzaei M, Nadjarzadeh A. Epidemiology of diabetes mellitus, pre-diabetes, undiagnosed and uncontrolled diabetes in Central Iran: results from Yazd health study. BMC Public Health 2020; 20(1): 166.
7.     Lancet T. Diabetes: a dynamic disease. 2017. p. 2163.
8.     Cefalu WT, Hu FB. Role of chromium in human health and in diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004; 27(11): 2741-51.
9.     Zhao F, Pan D, Wang N, Xia H, Zhang H, Wang S, et al. Effect of chromium supplementation on blood glucose and lipid levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022; 200(2): 516-25.
10.  Palizban AA, Razani R, Rezaei M, Badii A, Pourfarzam M. The investigation of blood concentration of Vanadium and Chromium in metabolic syndrome patients with and without type 2 diabetes [in Persian]. Yafte 2016; 18(1): 74-81.
11.  Davis CM, Vincent JB. Chromium oligopeptide activates insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Biochemistry. 1997; 36(15): 4382-5.
12.  Bailey CH. Improved meta-analytic methods show no effect of chromium supplements on fasting glucose. Biol Trace Elem Res 2014; 157(1): 1-8.
13.  Talab AT, Abdollahzad H, Nachvak SM, Pasdar Y, Eghtesadi S, Izadi A, et al. Effects of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Nutr Res 2020; 9(2): 97-106.
14.  Imanparast F, Javaheri J, Kamankesh F, Rafiei F, Salehi A, Mollaaliakbari Z, et al. The effects of chromium and vitamin D3 co-supplementation on insulin resistance and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in type 2 diabetes: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2020; 45(5): 471-7.
15.  Parsaeian N. Effect of Chromium supplementation on blood glucose, lipid profile and lipids peroxidation in type 2 diabetic patients [in Persian]. Feyz Med Sci J 2013; 16(7): 595-6.
16.  Payami SP, Saffarian S, Hasanzadeh A. Effects of chromium supplementation on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes  [in Persian]. Iranian JEndocrinol Metabol 2012; 14(3): 215-21.
17.  Pei D, Hsieh C-H, Hung Y-J, Li J-C, Lee C-H, Kuo S-W. The influence of chromium chloride–containing milk to glycemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Metabolism 2006; 55(7): 923-7.
18.  Racek J, Trefil L, Rajdl D, Mudrova V, Hunter D, Senft V. 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): 215-30.
19.  Sharma S, Agrawal RP, Choudhary M, Jain S, Goyal S, Agarwal V. Beneficial effect of chromium supplementation on glucose, HbA1C and lipid variables in individuals with newly onset type-2 diabetes. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2011; 25(3): 149-53.
20.  Guimaraes MM, Martins Silva Carvalho AC, Silva MS. Chromium nicotinate has no effect on insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, and lipid profile in subjects with type 2 diabetes. J Am Coll Nutr 2013; 32(4): 243-50.
21.  Kleefstra N, Houweling ST, Bakker SJ, Verhoeven S, Gans RO, Meyboom-de Jong B, et al. Chromium treatment has no effect in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Western population: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2007; 30(5): 1092-6.
22.  Debjani Ghosh DG, Basudev Bhattacharya BB, Biswajit Mukherjee BM, Byomkesh Manna BM, Mitali Sinha MS, Jyothi Chowdhury JC, et al. Role of chromium supplementation in Indians with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Nutr Biochem 2002; 13(11): 690-7.
23.  Gunton JE, Cheung NW, Hitchman R, Hams G, Sullivan C, Foster-Powell K, et al. Chromium supplementation does not improve glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, or lipid profile: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of supplementation in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance: response to Komorowski and Juturu. Diabetes Care 2005; 28(7): 1842-3.
24.  Mahdi G. Chromium deficiency might contribute to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia, and atherosclerosis. Diabet Med 1996; 13(4): 389-90.
25.  Abraham AS, Brooks BA, Eylath U. The effects of chromium supplementation on serum glucose and lipids in patients with and without non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Metabolism 1992; 41(7): 768-71.
26.  Anderson RA, Polansky MM, Bryden NA, Bhathena SJ, Canary JJ. Effects of supplemental chromium on patients with symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia. Metabolism 1987; 36(4): 351-5.
27.  Anderson RA, Polansky MM, Bryden NA, Roginski EE, Mertz W, Glinsmann W. Chromium supplementation of human subjects: effects on glucose, insulin, and lipid variables. Metabolism 1983; 32(9): 894-9.
28.  Rabinowitz MB, Gonick HC, Levin SR, Davidson MB. Effects of chromium and yeast supplements on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in diabetic men. Diabetes Care 1983; 6(4): 319-27.
Cefalu WT, Rood J, Pinsonat P, Qin J, Sereda O, Levitan L, et al. Characterization of the metabolic and physiologic response to chromium supplementation in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metabolism 2010; 59(5): 755-62.
Volume 43, Issue 846
2nd Week, March
March and April 2026
Pages 1877-1884

  • Receive Date 29 July 2024
  • Accept Date 01 November 2025