THE EFFECTS OF CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON SERUM GLUCOSE AND LIPIDS IN PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES

Seventy-six patients with established atherosclerotic disease were treated daily with either 250 μg of chromium orally as chromium chloride or a placebo for a period of 7 to 16 months (mean, 11.1 months). Serum chromium increased from 2.69 ± 0.09 to 12.12 ± 0.77 nmol/L (mean ± SE, P < .005). Serum triglycerides were lower (1.68 ± 0.11 and 2.10 ± 0.14 mmol/L, respectively; P < .02) in the chromium-treated patients than in the patients who received placebo, and serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) increased (from 0.94 ± 0.05 to 1.14 ± 0.07 mmol/L, P < .005) in the patients who received chromium. There was no change in serum cholesterol or blood glucose during the study. © 1992.