title: Long-term exposure to [Cr(3)O(O (2)CCH (2)CH (3)) (6)(H (2)O) (3)] (+) in Wistar rats fed normal or high-fat diets does not alter glucose metabolism.
abstract: 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(3)O(O(2)CCH(2)CH(3))(6)(H(2)O)(3)](+), 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Emporia State University, 1200 Commercial Street Campus, Box 4050, Emporia, KS 66801, USA.
authors.forename: Betty J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Herring
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Logsdon
authors.forename: Jarrett E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lockard
authors.forename: Brittany M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C403535:triaquaoxohexakis(propionato)trichromium(III); D005947:Glucose