Chromium supplementation improved post-stroke brain infarction and hyperglycemia.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Endocrinology
• Metabolic Research

Background:

• Post-stroke hyperglycemia is common and linked to poor outcomes, necessitating research into its mechanisms.
• Chromium is vital for insulin activity and metabolism; chromium supplementation shows benefits in diabetes complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate chromium dynamic mobilization in post-stroke hyperglycemia in a rat model.
• To determine if dietary chromium supplementation ameliorates stroke-induced brain injury and metabolic alterations.

Main Methods:

• A rat model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia was used to induce stroke.
• Measurements included blood glucose, insulin, counter-regulatory hormones, insulin signaling, hepatic gluconeogenesis, and tissue chromium levels.
• Correlation analyses examined relationships between hormone secretion, chromium loss, and blood glucose.

Main Results:

• Stroke rats exhibited hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and elevated counter-regulatory hormones.
• Post-stroke hyperglycemia correlated positively with chromium loss and increased blood glucose.
• Chromium supplementation normalized tissue chromium, reduced brain infarction, improved hyperglycemia, and decreased glucagon and corticosterone.

Conclusions:

• Stroke rats display disrupted chromium homeostasis with significant chromium loss.
• Chromium mobilization and loss may be a contributing factor to post-stroke hyperglycemia.
• Dietary chromium supplementation offers a potential therapeutic strategy for managing hyperglycemia and brain injury after stroke.