Chromium picolinate inhibits cholesterol-induced stimulation of platelet aggregation in hypercholesterolemic rats

Ir J Med Sci. 2015 Jun;184(2):291-6. doi: 10.1007/s11845-014-1102-7. Epub 2014 Mar 15.

Abstract

Background: Hypercholesterolemia indirectly increases the risk of myocardial infarction by enhancing platelet aggregation. Chromium has been shown to lower plasma lipids.

Aim: This study was designed to investigate whether chromium inhibits platelet aggregation under hypercholesterolemic conditions.

Methods: Albino rats were divided into four groups: control rats fed with a normolipemic diet (NLD group), chromium-supplemented rats fed with NLD (NLD + Cr group), rats fed with a high-fat diet (HF group), and chromium-supplemented rats fed with HF (HF + Cr group). After 10 weeks, blood was collected to determine adenosine diphosphate and collagen-induced platelet aggregation and plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B, and thromboxane B2. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was calculated by Friedewald formula.

Results: High-fat diet animals displayed significant elevation of plasma lipids and platelet aggregation which was normalized to control levels by chromium supplementation. Chromium supplementation in normolipemic (NLD + Cr) rats did not produce significant changes in either plasma lipids or platelet activity.

Conclusion: Chromium supplementation to hypercholesterolemic rats improves the lipid profile and returns platelet hyperaggregability to control levels. This normalization is mostly due to a reduction in plasma cholesterol level.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoprotein A-I / blood
  • Apolipoproteins B / blood
  • Blood Platelets / drug effects
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood*
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy
  • Iron Chelating Agents / pharmacology*
  • Male
  • Picolinic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Apolipoprotein A-I
  • Apolipoproteins B
  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Iron Chelating Agents
  • Picolinic Acids
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Triglycerides
  • picolinic acid