Long-Term Exposure to [Cr^sub 3^O(O2CCH2CH^sub 3^)^sub 6^(H2O)^sub 3^]^sup +^ in Wistar Rats Fed Normal or High-Fat Diets Does Not Alter Glucose Metabolism

• Published in: Biological trace element research 2013-03, Vol.151 (3), p.406
• Main Authors: Herring, Betty J, Logsdon, Amanda L, Lockard, Jarrett E, Miller, Brittany M, Kim, Hanna, Calderon, Eric A, Vincent, John B, Bailey, Melissa M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood; Body mass; Chromium; Diet; Glucose; Oils & fats; Rodents; Trace elements
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-012-9580-9

The essentiality of chromium(III) has been the subject of much debate, particularly in healthy subjects. Chromium(III)-containing supplements are widely used for body mass loss, building of lean muscle mass, and improving glucose and lipid metabolism. [Cr^sub 3^O(O2CCH2CH^sub 3^)^sub 6^(H2O)^sub 3^]^sup +^, Cr3, is one of the most-studied chromium nutritional supplements. The current study evaluates the effects of long-term (15 months) supplementation with Cr3 on body mass and glucose metabolism in Wistar rats on traditional and cafeteria-style (high fat, high carbohydrate) diets. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) control diet (milled Harlan Teklad LM-485 rodent diet), (2) control diet+1 mg Cr3/kg body mass/day, (3) a cafeteria-style (CAF) diet (high fat, high carbohydrate), or (4) CAF diet+1 mg Cr3/kg/day. Cr3 supplementation had no effect on fasting blood glucose levels or blood glucose levels in response to glucose and insulin challenges. Rats consuming the CAF+Cr3 diet tended to have a significantly higher body mass than rats consuming the CAF diet, but necropsy results showed no difference in visceral fat or body wall thickness between groups. These data suggest that long-term Cr3 supplementation does not significantly affect body mass in rats consuming a normal diet or glucose levels or metabolism in rats consuming either diet.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]