EFFECTS OF CHROMIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON PLASMA-LIPIDS, APOLIPOPROTEINS, AND GLUCOSE IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS

The effects of chromium supplementation on plasma lipids, apolipoproteins and glucose were evaluated in forty-two adults, age 60 and above. Half were randomly assigned to receive a capsule containing 150 ug chromium (Cr) as CrCl3 in lactose each day for twelve weeks, the other half received a lactose placebo. A twelve hour fasting venous blood sample was drawn before and after twelve weeks of supplementation. For the total sample there were no significant effects of chromium supplementation on plasma lipids or glucose. However, for subjects whose initial plasma cholesterol was greater than 6.21 mM, significant reductions in total and LDL-cholesterol were observed for the chromium supplemented group compared to the placebo group, p less than or equal to 0.03. For subjects with elevated cholesterol, chromium supplementation did not affect plasma HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides or glucose; however, these parameters were within normal ranges. For the total sample there were no significant effects of chromium supplementation on apolipoproteins A-1 or B. However, for subjects with elevated total cholesterol, there was a significant decrease in apolipoprotein B for the chromium supplemented group compared to the placebo, p=0.05. Dietary copper was negatively correlated with apolipoprotein B, and dietary magnesium was negatively correlated with apolipoprotein A-1.