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Serum chromium does not predict glucose tolerance in late pregnancy^1,2

¹ From the Department of Endocrinology and Pacific Laboratory Medicine Services, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, Australia.

Background: Chromium is an essential element in human nutrition. Serum concentrations of chromium are not well characterized during pregnancy or in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether low plasma chromium concentrations (3 nmol/L) are associated with altered glucose, insulin, or lipid concentrations during pregnancy.

Design: The study was conducted prospectively and took place at the medical obstetric clinic of a tertiary referral hospital. Seventy-nine women with abnormal results of a 50-g glucose challenge test in the third trimester of pregnancy were studied. All women had a formal 75-g oral-glucose-tolerance test, and fasting insulin, lipid, and chromium concentrations were determined. Chromium was measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results: The median chromium concentration was 2 nmol/L (95% CI: 0, 12). There were no significant differences in age, plasma glucose, insulin, lipids, calculated insulin resistance, or calculated ß cell function between women with normal and those with abnormal (3 nmol/L) chromium concentrations.

Conclusions: Plasma chromium during pregnancy does not correlate with glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, or serum lipids. Plasma chromium concentrations may not accurately reflect tissue stores of chromium. Several trials showed a beneficial effect of chromium supplementation on glucose tolerance, insulin, and lipids. A method for assessing body chromium stores is required to allow further study.

Key Words: Chromium • glucose intolerance • gestational diabetes • pregnancy • triacylglycerol • cholesterol

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