The effect of prolonged treatment with differing doses of chromium on glucose homeostasis in rabbits

The effect of prolonged treatment with chromium on glucose homeostasis was assessed in rabbits. Thirty-one male rabbits were divided into 6 groups. All were fed for 30 days with a standard ad libitum diet. Twenty-seven rabbits were injected daily during a further 120 days with different doses of potassium chromate (3-20 micrograms) while 4 rabbits served as controls. No significant rise in serum glucose levels was observed, insulin levels were the same in the different groups, and glycosylated hemoglobin concentration also did not change after the administration of chromium. Serum chromium levels increased proportionally to the dose injected to an almost a 14 fold increase in the 20 micrograms chromium treated group. Although others have shown that chromium may have a hyperglycemic effect with inhibition of insulin secretion, we have not been able to confirm this finding.