A pilot study of the effects of chromium picolinate supplementation on serum fetuin-A, metabolic and inflammatory factors in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2021 Jan:63:126659. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2020.126659. Epub 2020 Sep 30.

Abstract

Background: Evaluating the impact of chromium picolinate supplementation on glycemic status, lipid profile, inflammatory markers and fetuin-A in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: In present research, participants (N = 46) were randomized to (400 mcg/day, n = 23) chromium picolinate and placebo (n = 23) for 3 months.

Results: Glucose indices, and lipid profiles, inflammatory biomarker and fetuin-A were measured before and after the intervention. Chromium reduced triglyceride (TG), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin (IL) -6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and fetuin-A significantly compared to placebo group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, chromium significantly increased the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). There were no significant differences in total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), fasting blood sugar (FBS), Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), interleukin (IL)-17 between the two groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Chromium picolinate significantly decreased TG, insulin, HOMA-IR, fetuin-A, the number of inflammatory factors, and increased QUICKI without changing FBS, HbA1C, TC, LDL, HDL, IL-17 levels and liver steatosis intensity in patients with NAFLD. Further studies by examining the effect of different doses of chromium and mechanisms of cellular action, would help further clarify the subject.

Keywords: Chromium; Fetuin-A; Glucose; Inflammation; Lipid; NAFLD.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • C-Reactive Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / blood
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy*
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
  • Picolinic Acids / administration & dosage
  • Picolinic Acids / pharmacology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood
  • Young Adult
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / analysis
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Interleukin-6
  • Picolinic Acids
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • picolinic acid