The effects of chromium supplementation on lipidprofile in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis ofrandomized controlled trials

Background and aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of chromium supplementation on lipid profile consisting of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in humans. Methods: The PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of sciences, Google Scholar and Cochrane library were systematically searched for randomised control trails (RCTs) available which published before August 2020. The meta-analysis was conducted using Random or fixed-effects models, and between-study heterogeneity was assessed by I-2 . Results: Thirty-eight studies comprising 41 treatment arms and 7605 participants included to the present meta-analysis. Our results of overall analysis show only a significant reduction in serum TC level in response to chromium supplementation (WMD: -0.17 mmo1/1, 95 % CI: -0.27, -0.07, P = 0.001). In accordance with the results of the subgroup analyses, the lowering-effect of chromium supplementation may be synergist during short-term (less than 12 weeks), low dose (less than 200), diabetics patient, younger adults (less than 54 years) and picolinate and elemental form for TC, older and non-obese subjects (>54 years and <= 29 kg/m2, respectively), women, Asian and Australian and picolinate form for TG, short-term, low dose, non-obese subjects, women, and Asian for VLDL, and nicotinate form for HDL-C, but had no effect on LDL-C. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis reveals that there was only an overall significant association between chromium supplementation with decreases in the concentration of TC. Additionally, we found considerable evidence of subgroup analysis that support a significant lowering effect of chromium supplementation on TC, TG and VLDL. Further RCTs with short-term and low dose chromium supplementation in subjects with diabetes are necessitated for a firm conclusion of the lipid-modulating properties.

Automated summary

This systematic review and meta-analysis found a significant association between chromium supplementation and decreases in total cholesterol levels, as well as significant lowering effects on triglycerides and very low-density lipoproteins, especially in short-term and low-dose supplementation scenarios. Further randomized controlled trials in individuals with diabetes are needed to confirm the lipid-modulating properties of chromium supplementation.