Effect of chromium niacinate and chromium picolinate supplementation on lipid peroxidation, TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, glycated hemoglobin, triglycerides, and cholesterol levels in blood of streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats

Chromium (Cr3+) supplementation facilitates normal protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism, and is widely used by the public in many countries. This study examined the effect of chromium niacinate (Cr-N) or chromium picolinate (Cr-P) supplementation on lipid peroxidation (LP), TNF-α, IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1), cholesterol, and triglycerides (TG) in diabetic rats. Diabetes (D) was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozotocin (STZ) (ip, 65 mg/kg BW). Control buffer, Cr-N, or Cr-P (400 μg Cr/kg BW) was administered by gavages daily for 7 weeks. Blood was collected by heart puncture using light anesthesia. Diabetes caused a significant increase in blood levels of TNF-α, IL-6, glucose, HbA1, cholesterol, TG, and LP. Compared with D, Cr-N supplementation lowered the blood levels of TNF-α (P = 0.04), IL-6 (P = 0.02), CRP (P = 0.02), LP (P = 0.01), HbA1 (P = 0.02), TG (P = 0.04), and cholesterol (P = 0.04). Compared with D, Cr-P supplementation showed a decrease in TNF-α (P = 0.02), IL-6 (P = 0.02), and LP (P = 0.01). Chromium niacinate lowers blood levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, CRP), oxidative stress, and lipids levels in diabetic rats, and appears to be a more effective form of Cr3+ supplementation. This study suggests that Cr3+ supplementation can lower the risk of vascular inflammation in diabetes.