This study was carried out to investigate the effects of chromium intake on glycemic control, markers of cardio-metabolic risk, and oxidative stress in infertile polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women candidate for in vitro fertilization (IVF). This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was done among 40 subjects with infertile PCOS candidate for IVF, aged 18-40 years old. Individuals were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 200 μg/day of chromium (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) for 8 weeks. Biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline and at end-of-trial. Compared with the placebo, taking chromium supplements led to significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (- 2.3 ± 5.7 vs. + 0.9 ± 3.1 mg/dL, P = 0.03), insulin levels (- 1.4 ± 2.1 vs. + 0.4 ± 1.7 μIU/mL, P = 0.004), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (- 0.3 ± 0.5 vs. + 0.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.005), and a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.004 ± 0.008 vs. - 0.001 ± 0.008, P = 0.03). In addition, chromium supplementation significantly decreased serum triglycerides (- 19.2 ± 33.8 vs. + 8.3 ± 21.7 mg/dL, P = 0.004), VLDL- (- 3.8 ± 6.8 vs. + 1.7 ± 4.3 mg/dL, P = 0.004) and total cholesterol concentrations (- 15.3 ± 26.2 vs. - 0.6 ± 15.9 mg/dL, P = 0.03) compared with the placebo. Additionally, taking chromium supplements was associated with a significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity (+ 153.9 ± 46.1 vs. - 7.8 ± 43.9 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and a significant reduction in malondialdehyde values (-0.3 ± 0.3 vs. + 0.1 ± 0.2 μmol/L, P = 0.001) compared with the placebo. Overall, our study supported that chromium administration for 8 weeks to infertile PCOS women candidate for IVF had beneficial impacts on glycemic control, few variables of cardio-metabolic risk, and oxidative stress.
Keywords: Cardio-metabolic; Chromium supplementation; Glycemic control; Polycystic ovary syndrome.