title: The Effects of Chromium Supplementation on Endocrine Profiles, Biomarkers of Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.
abstract: Limited data are available indicating the effects of chromium administration on endocrine profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This study was done to assess the effects of chromium administration on endocrine profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in women with PCOS. Participants of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial consisted of 60 patients with PCOS who received either 200 μg chromium supplements (n = 30) or placebo daily (n = 30) for 8 weeks. Endocrine profiles, inflammatory factors, and biomarkers of oxidative stress were assessed at study baseline and at the end of intervention. After 8 weeks of intervention, pregnancy rate in chromium group was higher than that in the placebo group: 16.7 % (5/30) vs. 3.3 % (1/30), P = 0.08. In addition, prevalence of acne (20.0 vs. 3.3 %, P = 0.04) decreased following the administration of chromium supplements compared with the placebo. Taking chromium led to a significant reduction in hirsutism (-1.8 ± 2.5 vs. -0.2 ± 0.8, P = 0.002), serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (-717.0 ± 1496.1 vs. +227.1 ± 1669.6 ng/mL, P = 0.02), plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (-0.1 ± 0.7 vs. +1.1 ± 1.5 μmol/L, P < 0.001), and a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations (+250.7 ± 265.2 vs. +13.0 ± 201.6 mmol/L, P < 0.001). We failed to find any significant effect of chromium administration on endocrine profiles and nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) levels. Overall, taking chromium for 8 weeks among women with PCOS had beneficial effects on acne, hirsutism, hs-CRP, TAC, and MDA levels, but it did not affect endocrine profiles, NO, and GSH.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRCT201506105623N44 ( www.irct.ir ).
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jamilian
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahmani
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Ghazvin University of Medical Sciences, Ghazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrnush Amiri
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Siavashani
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mazloomi
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. asemi_r@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zatollah
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Asemi
authors.affiliation: Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.|Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.|Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esmaillzadeh
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002857:Chromium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006628:Hirsutism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002857:Chromium
keywords: Chromium; Endocrine profiles; Inflammation; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Supplementation