[Effect of chromium gluconate on body weight, serum leptin and insulin in rats]

In order to observe the effect of chromium on rat body weight, serum leptin and insulin, eight groups of rats were randomly fed diets (basal diet or high-fat diet) with different levels of chromium gluconate [proximally Cr(III) 1,2 and 3 mg/kg BW]. All rats were weighted once a week. By the end of the 8th week, all rats were decapitalized and the levels of serum leptin and insulin were tested by RIA method. The ratio of liver, spleen, kidney and testickle to body weight were calculated. The average body weight and the levels of leptin and insulin of high-fat-diet groups were significantly higher than those of the basal-diet group (P < 0.05), but the insulin and leptin of groups with chromium were significantly lower than their corresponding control groups without chromium(P < 0.05). It was concluded that chromium could cause weight loss slightly and reduce the levels of insulin and leptin.