[Effect of chromium supplementation on lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus]

Although current data shows that chromium supplementation in type 2 Diabetic patients can improve control blood sugar and lipids there are controversial results about its relevance to improving blood sugar and lipids in diabetes. This study investigates the effect of chromium picolinate supplement on blood sugar and lipids control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled study was carried out at the Diabetes Clinic of the Loghman Hospital in collaboration with Taban Diabetes Clinic. In this clinical study of 60 patients with type 2 Diabetes, participants were randomized into the doubleblind treatment and control groups for 3 months of treatment with 200 g of chromium picolinate or placebo respectively. Blood sugar and lipids profile were assessed at the beginning and end of the study. Based on the result of this study it has been found that 200 micrograms of chromium consumed over three months could decrease of TG levels dramatically, compared to placebos. TG changes were significantly different between the two groups, [P=0.048], without any change in other lipid profiles of the two groups. Findings showed that chromium picolinate treatment for 90 days produced significant improvements in glycemic control compared to placebo, based on significant reductions in both FPG and HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with significant changes between the two groups [P<0.001]. Results of this study recommend that chromium picolinate prescribed to type 2 diabetes patients could decrease TG, HbA1c and FPG levels