Chromium picolinate reduces insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome: Randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effect of chromium picolinate (CrP) on insulin resistance (IR) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: This double blinded randomized controlled trial was conducted in the Gynecology outpatient clinics at Ain Shams University Women's Hospital. Using closed and randomly mixed envelopes, 100 women were selected out of 400 PCOS patients. Eighty-five patients finished the study and were analyzed, 44 in group I and 41 in group II. They were randomly allocated to 6 months of either 1000 μg CrP (50 patients), or placebo capsules (50 patients). Patients were seen monthly to encourage similar diet control and physical exercise plans. The primary outcome was fasting glucose insulin ratio (FGIR), secondary outcomes included ovulation, regularity of the cycle, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting serum insulin (FSI), and serum testosterone level. Results: There were no significant differences between women of both groups regarding pretreatment levels of FBS, FSI, FGIR, and serum testosterone. Use of CrP for 6 months was associated with significant reduction of BMI (P < 0.001) and FSI (P = 0.007), and significant rise in FGIR (P = 0.045). CrP significantly increased the chances of ovulation (P = 0.011) and regular menstruation (P = 0.002) by almost twofold after the fifth month of treatment. Conclusion: Chromium picolinate is useful in PCOS to reduce IR and stimulate ovulation.

Blood Trace Element Concentrations in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Most of these data have been produced by clinical trials evaluating outcomes of nutritional supplementation [30][31][32][33][34][35][36]. A synthesis of the evidence produced by case-control studies is not available.…”

Chromium supplementation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Four studies (66.67%) compared the effects of CrP with placebo, while two studies (33.33%) compared them with metformin, which is commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes. The drop‐out rates were acceptable, except in one study . The outcomes consisted of metabolic status, IR, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress …”

“…In detail, four trials (66.67%) adopted adequate random sequence generation and allocation concealment, and three trials (50.00%) had similar baseline conditions. Most trials (83.33%) used participant blinding or provider blinding, whereas one trial (16.67%) reported the outcome assessor blinding . Four studies did not utilize co‐interventions, and two used metformin .…”

“…Ashoush et al . reported that CrP was useful in PCOS to stimulate ovulation, whereas Amooee et al . found the opposite .…”

“…Ashoush et al . reported that CrP was useful in PCOS to reduce IR and stimulate ovulation, and Jamilian and Asemi showed that chromium supplementation in PCOS women had favorable effects on markers of insulin metabolism . Lucidi et al ., however, showed that CrP did not improve ovulatory frequency or hormone parameters in women with PCOS .…”