Effects of chromium supplementation on lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of chromium supplementation on lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A systematic search was performed in Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane library and PubMed databases to find randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the effect of chromium supplementation on lipid profile in patients with T2DM, up to June 2020. Meta-analyses were performed using the random-effects model, and I2 index was used to evaluate heterogeneity. Results: The primary search yielded 725 publications. 24 RCTs (with 28 effect size) were eligible. Our metaanalysis indicated that chromium supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in serum levels of triglyceride (TG) (MD: -6.54 mg/dl, 95 % CI: -13.08 to -0.00, P = 0.050) and total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: -7.77 mg/dl, 95 % CI: -11.35 to -4.18, P < 0.001). Furthermore, chromium significantly increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (WMD: 2.23 mg/dl, 95 % CI: 0.07-4.40, P = 0.043) level. However, chromium supplementation did not have significant effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (WMD: -8.54 mg/dl, 95 % CI: -19.58 to 2.49, P = 0.129) level. Conclusion: Chromium supplementation may significantly improve lipid profile in patients with T2DM by decreasing TG and TC and increasing HDL. However, based on our analysis, chromium failed to affect LDL. It should be noted that the lipid-lowering properties of chromium supplementation were small and may not reach clinical importance.

Automated summary

The study shows that chromium supplementation can significantly improve lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes by decreasing TG and TC levels, and increasing HDL levels, but has no significant effect on LDL levels.