Serum chromium does not predict glucose tolerance in late pregnancy

Abstract

Background:Chromium is an essential element in human nutrition. Serum concentrations of chromium are not well characterized during pregnancy or in gestational diabetes mellitus. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether low plasma chromium concentrations (≤ 3 nmol/L) are associated with altered glucose, insulin, or lipid concentrations during pregnancy. Design: The study was conducted prospectively and took place at the medical obstetric clinic of a tertiary referral hospital. Seventy-nine women with abnormal results of a 50-g glucose challenge test in the third trimester of pregnancy were studied. All women had a formal 75-g oral-glucose-tolerance test, and fasting insulin, lipid, and chromium concentrations were determined. Chromium was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: The median chromium concentration was 2 nmol/L (95% CI: 0, 12). There were no significant differences in age, plasma glucose, insulin, lipids, calculated insulin resistance, or calculated ␤ cell function between women with normal and those with abnormal (≤ 3 nmol/L) chromium concentrations. Conclusions: Plasma chromium during pregnancy does not correlate with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, or serum lipids. Plasma chromium concentrations may not accurately reflect tissue stores of chromium. Several trials showed a beneficial effect of chromium supplementation on glucose tolerance, insulin, and lipids. A method for assessing body chromium stores is required to allow further study.Am J Clin Nutr 2001;73:99-104.

Chromium Supplementation Does Not Improve Glucose Tolerance, Insulin Sensitivity, or Lipid Profile

“…However, using careful collection methods to avoid contamination, the subjects in the study had similarly low levels at baseline and levels consistent with those found during pregnancy (6). Examination of postorthopedic surgical patients in Sydney found much higher levels of chromium (data not shown), suggesting that the baseline levels in our group were low and thereby theoretically amenable to supplementation.…”

Serum Chromium and Gestational Diabetes

“…These results are similar to those found by other researchers. 4,5 If chromium has any role in gestational diabetes, it may be that it is a possible treatment but not a cause or correlation. It is possible that gestational diabetes is different from type 2 diabetes in regard to chromium.…”

“…4 A separate prospective study used plasma chromium to assess chromium levels. 5 It concluded that plasma chromium during pregnancy did not correlate with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, or serum lipid levels. However, it also noted that plasma chromium may not reflect tissue stores of chromium and that a method for assessing body chromium stores was required for further studies.…”

“…However, it also noted that plasma chromium may not reflect tissue stores of chromium and that a method for assessing body chromium stores was required for further studies. 5 The best test for assessing chromium is unknown and it may be different for acute versus chronic disease states. We choose to evaluate serum using a new technique because we were evaluating a subacute disease and the new device is more accurate than previous testing methods.…”

Can long‐term exposure to chromium improve insulin sensitivity in chromium mine workers?

“…In some studies it was shown that the addition of a natural dietary supplement, such as chromium picolinate, during a diet and exercise weight-loss program accelerates the rate of body fat loss and helps maintain fat-free mass, thereby producing favorable changes in body composition [23]. In a meta-analysis, it was shown that chromium supplementations have beneficial effect on lipid, glucose, or insulin concentrations in subjects without diabetes [10]. Improved fasting glucose and glucose tolerance with lower or similar levels of circulating insulin have been reported in more than 10 studies involving chromium supplementation of people varying degrees of glucose intolerance [24].…”