Chromium Nicotinate Has No Effect on Insulin Sensitivity, Glycemic Control, and Lipid Profile in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: To investigate the effect of chromium nicotinate supplementation on insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, and lipid profile in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: In a double-blind clinical trial, 56 overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes were randomized into 3 groups: placebo (NC0), 50 mu g (NC50), and 200 mu g (NC200) of chromium as chromium nicotinate. Chromium status, sensitivity to insulin, glycemic control, and lipid profile were assessed at the beginning of the study and 45 days and 90 days after. Results: In the beginning, most subjects showed low concentrations of serum chromium (71.88%), regular levels of urinary chromium (80.65%), and insulin resistance (73.80%). The serum chromium concentrations did not differ among the groups over time (p = 0.2549). The changes in serum chromium and urine concentrations did not relate to changes in fasting glucose (p > 0.05). At 90 days of intervention, there was no significant difference between groups in fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL); there was increase in homeostasis model assessment beta-cell function (HOMA-beta; p = 0.0349) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL; p = 0.0425) in the NC0 group and a reduction of triglycerides in the NC0 (p = 0.0177) and NC50 (p = 0.0336) groups. Conclusion: Supplementation at 50 and 200 mu g of chromium as chromium nicotinate did not promote glycemic control, increase insulin sensitivity, or change the lipid profile of subjects with diabetes.