No favourable effects of Cr (III) supplementation on lipid metabolism on type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a meta-analysis of single and double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trials

• Published in: Journal of negative & no positive results Vol. 2; no. 3; pp. 101 - 106
• Main Authors: Ismael San Mauro Martín, Ana María Ruiz León, Elena Garicano Vilar, Luis Collado Yurrita, María José Ciudad Cabañas, Beatriz de Mateo Silleras, María de Paz Redondo del Río, María Alicia Camina Martín
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asociación Para el Progreso de la Biomedicina 01.03.2017
• Subjects: chromium; hyperglycaemia; supplementation; Type 2 Diabetes mellitus
• ISSN: 2529-850X; 2529-850X
• DOI: 10.19230/jonnpr.1253

Introduction. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an important global health issue which prevalence has been increasing in the last years. Many studies have linked chromium supplementation with improvement of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Aim. Perform a meta-analysis of single and double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trials, where participants diagnosed of type 2 DM or glucose intolerants were supplemented with Cr (III). Methods. Systematic literature search in electronic databases was conducted, using the following search terms: (diabetes) AND (chromium), until July, 2016. Eligible studies were limited to double or single-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials, comparing Cr mono or combined supplementation at least for 30 days against placebo, in subjects diagnosed of type 2 DM or with glucose intolerance. Results. Total doses of Cr supplementation and brewer’s yeast ranged from 20 to 1000 µg/day, and duration of supplementation ranged from 30 to 120 days. No statistically significant reduction was found in HDL-C (p=0.63), LDL-C (p=0.53) and TG (p=0.34) compared to placebo; with a weighted average effect size of -0.44 (95% CI: -2.2 to 1.33) mg/dL, -1.43 (95% CI: -5.94 to 3.08) mg/dL and -7.43 (95% CI: -22.67 to 7.82) mg/dL, respectively. Conclusion. Evidence in our study suggests no favourable effects of chromium supplementation on lipid metabolism control in patients with type 2 diabetes.