The effects of chromium and copper supplementation on mitogen‐stimulated T cell proliferation in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 127; no. 3; pp. 463 - 469
• Main Authors: Rhee, Y. S., Hermann, J. R., Burnham, K., Arquitt, A. B., Stoecker, B. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science, Ltd 01.03.2002; Blackwell; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Basophils - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Cells, Cultured; chromium; Chromium - administration & dosage; Chromium - pharmacology; Clinical Studies; copper; Copper - administration & dosage; Copper - pharmacology; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - diagnosis; Hypercholesterolemia - immunology; Immunobiology; lymphocyte; Lymphocyte Activation - drug effects; Middle Aged; mitogen; Mitogens - pharmacology; Modulation of the immune response (stimulation, suppression); postmenopausal women; Postmenopause; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Human; Cell proliferation; Immune response; Immunomodulation; Menopause; Biological activity; Feeding; T-Lymphocyte; Chromium; Female; Mitogen; Supplementation; Copper
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01697.x

The purpose of this study was to analyse effects of chromium and/or copper supplementation on immune function in hypercholesterolaemic postmenopausal women. A 2 × 2 factorial research design was used and 40 subjects were supplemented with 0·394 g lactose, 200 μg Cr, 3·0 mg Cu, or 200 μg Cr and 3·0 mg Cu/d for 12 weeks. A significant interactive effect of Cr and Cu supplementation on lymphocyte proliferation was observed with ConA 50 μg/ml stimulation. After 12 weeks of supplementation, ConA‐stimulated (50 μg/ml) lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower when Cu was added to the Cr supplementation group. Moreover, ConA‐stimulated (100 μg/ml) lymphocyte proliferation was significantly lower in the Cu supplementation group compared to the Cr supplementation group after 12 weeks of supplementation. These results suggest that Cu blocks enhancement of lymphocyte proliferation by Cr supplementation and that Cu supplementation has potential suppressive effects on the immune function in these subjects.