The way of serum chromium utilization may contribute to cardiovascular risk factors in centrally obese persons

Obesity-related disturbances are considered to be risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Chromium is shown to improve carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Conflicting data on effects of chromium supplementation in humans are published. The aim of the study was to assess the concentrations of serum chromium during the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in obese persons.

Fourty-eight centrally obese Caucasians, apparently healthy, using neither special diet nor mineral supplementation, were enrolled in the study. During the OGTT, 0-min and 120-min concentrations of plasma glucose (G 0', G 120'), serum insulin (Ins 0', Ins 120') and chromium (Cr 0', Cr 120') were determined. Plasma lipids, apolipoproteins A and B, and serum uric acid were measured at 0 min only. For parameters assessed during the OGTT, the difference D = [(120' concentration) - (0' concentration)] was calculated. Contradictory tendencies of Cr 120' were observed; thus the difference of serum chromium concentrations, DCr = [(Cr 120') - (Cr 0')], was used to establish the positive DCr group with DCr > 0 (PosDCr: n= 24; 9 male/15 female) and the negative DCr group with DCr < 0 (NegDCr: n= 24; 8 male/16 female).

The studied groups were comparable as far as their metabolic parameters are concerned, except higher G 120' (p= 0.043) and DG (p = 0.048), and lower Cr 120' (p < 0.000), which were observed in the NegDCr group. The NegDCr persons showed inverse correlations between Cr 0' and systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

We suggest that the studied centrally obese persons differed in chromium metabolism. In subjects "consuming" Cr during the OGTT, chromium status may be associated with increased risk for CVD.