HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Volpe, S. L. Articles by Lesser, I. I. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Volpe, S. L. Articles by Lesser, I. I.

Effect of Chromium Supplementation and Exercise on Body Composition, Resting Metabolic Rate and Selected Biochemical Parameters in Moderately Obese Women Following an Exercise Program

Department of Nutrition, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts (S.L.V., H.-W.H., K.L.)
Faculty of Medicine, School of Nutrition, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina (I.I.L.)

Address reprint requests to: Stella L. Volpe, Ph.D., R.D., Department of Nutrition, 210 Chenoweth Lab, 100 Holdsworth Way, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. E-mail: volpe{at}nutrition.umass.edu

Objective: To investigate the effect of chromium picolinate (CP) supplementation on body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR), selected biochemical parameters and iron and zinc status in moderately obese women participating in a 12-week exercise program.

Methods: Forty-four women, 27 to 51 years of age, were randomly assigned to two groups based on their body mass index. Subjects received either 400 µg/day of chromium as a CP supplement or a placebo in double-blind fashion and participated in a supervised weight-training and walking program two days per week for 12 weeks. Body composition and RMR were measured at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Selected biochemical parameters and iron and zinc status were measured at baseline and 12 weeks.

Results: Body composition and RMR were not significantly changed by CP supplementation. No significant differences in fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, plasma glucagon, serum C-peptide and serum lipid concentrations or in iron and zinc indices were found between the two groups over time. Serum total cholesterol concentration significantly decreased (p = 0.0016) over time for all subjects combined, probably as a result of the exercise training. Exercise training significantly reduced total iron binding capacity (TIBC) by 3% for all subjects combined (p = 0.0011).

Conclusions: Twelve weeks of 400 µg/day of chromium as a CP supplement did not significantly affect body composition, RMR, plasma glucose, serum insulin, plasma glucagon, serum C-peptide and serum lipid concentrations or iron and zinc indices in moderately obese women placed on an exercise program. The changes in serum total cholesterol levels and TIBC were a result of the exercise program.

Key words: chromium, body composition, glucose tolerance, iron, obese women, zinc

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. M. Balk, A. Tatsioni, A. H. Lichtenstein, J. Lau, and A. G. Pittas Effect of Chromium Supplementation on Glucose Metabolism and Lipids: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials Diabetes Care, August 1, 2007; 30(8): 2154 - 2163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. T. Cefalu and F. B. Hu Role of Chromium in Human Health and in Diabetes Diabetes Care, November 1, 2004; 27(11): 2741 - 2751. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. J Ryan, N. S Wanko, A. R Redman, and C. B Cook Chromium as Adjunctive Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Ann. Pharmacother., June 1, 2003; 37(6): 876 - 885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Nissen and R. L. Sharp Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2003; 94(2): 651 - 659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]