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Effect of chromium on insulin secretion and glucose removal rate in the newborn
Insights
Chromium supplementation did not significantly alter glucose removal rate (GRR) in newborns. This suggests chromium
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Endocrinology
- Nutritional science
Background:
- Glucose removal rate (GRR) is crucial for neonatal metabolic adaptation.
- Chromium is a trace element involved in glucose metabolism.
- Limited data exists on chromium's role in neonatal glucose homeostasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of chromium supplementation on glucose removal rate (GRR) in term newborns.
- To assess chromium's impact on insulin response in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTT) were performed on 22 term newborns within the first 48 hours of life.
- Sixteen infants received oral chromium supplementation (250 micrograms CrCl3·6H2O), while six served as controls.
- IVGTT was repeated on the second day of life for all infants.
Main Results:
- Chromium administration led to a significant increase in GRR from 1.34 ± 0.19 to 2.58 ± 0.45 %/min (P < 0.01).
- Control infants also showed a significant increase in GRR from 0.90 ± 0.36 to 2.04 ± 0.32 %/min (P < 0.05).
- No significant difference in the relative increase in GRR was observed between groups, and chromium did not alter plasma insulin levels.
Conclusions:
- Chromium supplementation did not significantly enhance glucose removal rate in newborns compared to controls.
- The findings suggest that chromium's role as a glucose tolerance factor may be limited in the early newborn period.
- Low GRR in neonates, similar to delayed insulin release, may indicate developmental immaturity of glucose regulatory mechanisms.
Abstract:
The effect of chromium on glucose removal rate (GRR) was investigated in the first 48 hr of life in 22 full-term newborns. Intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed in all babies in the first 24 hr. GRR was found 1.22 +/- 0.17% min. Sixteen of 22 babies received orally 250 micrograms CrCl3 6 H2O and the other six served as controls (no chromium). Intravenous glucose tolerance test was repeated on the 2nd day in all subjects. In the chromium administered group GRR increased from 1.34 +/- 0.19 to 2.58 +/- 0.45% min (P less than 0.01). In the controls, GRR on 2 consecutive days were found 0.90 +/- 0.36 and 2.04 +/- 0.32% min, respectively (P less than 0.05). The ratio of the difference between two GRR values to initial GRR showed no significant difference between the chromium-administered group and the controls. Chromium did not cause a significant change in plasma insulin. The low GRR observed in the newborn irrespective of administered chromium may be taken as evidence that similar to the relative delay in insulin release, the active role of chromium in plasma as glucose tolerance factor may also be inadequate in the early newborn period.