Written by Joyce Smith, BS. Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome who supplemented with chromium picolinate for 8 weeks experienced significantly less alopecia, hirsutism, acne and had reduced levels of inflammation and oxidative stress compared to those PCOS women who did not take chromium.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine system disorder that affects 6-8% of women of reproductive age worldwide 1. People with PCOS may have infrequent or prolonged menstrual periods, alopecia (baldness), hirsutism (excess hair growth on the face and body), acne, insulin resistance, obesity and polycystic ovaries.2 Some studies have suggested that people with PCOS may have hyperglycemia, impaired insulin metabolism, and an abundance of adipose tissue, all of which contribute to free radical formation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increase the biomarkers for inflammation and oxidative stress 3.
Other studies have suggested that people with increased levels of inflammation, particularly due to elevated C-reactive protein (CPR) and interleukin 18 (IL-18) 4, may have an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis because of accelerated endothelium dysfunction 5.
Because of limited available research, researchers chose to investigate the effects of chromium supplementation on endocrine profiles, inflammatory cytokines, and biomarkers of oxidative stress among women with PCOS.
This randomized, double- blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial consisted of two groups of 60 PCOS women (18-48 years of age) who received either 200 mcg of chromium picolinate supplements daily (n=30) or placebo (n=30) for 8 weeks. Three dietary and three physical activity records were completed at weeks3, 5, and 7 of treatment. Participants kept three-day food diaries which were used to compute their nutrient intakes.
Endocrine profiles were quantified on all patients from fasting blood samples taken before and after 8 weeks of chromium supplementation. These included serum prolactin, follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations, serum free testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and 17-OH progesterone concentrations.
Also recorded were high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a measure of inflammation and the following biomarkers of oxidative stress: nitric oxide (NO) 6, Total Oxygen Capacity (TAC) 7, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) 8 9.
Anthropometric measures were documented, including height and weight, to assess body shape, size and composition. The presence and degree of hirsutism 10, alopecia 11, and acne 12 were also documented. A P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
After 8 weeks of intervention, the chromium group had a greater pregnancy rate (P=0.08) and decreased alopecia (baldness) (P=0.22); however, neither reached significance.
The chromium group had a significant reduction in acne (P=0.04), hirsutism (P=0.002), serum hs-CRP (P=0.02), plasma MDA (P<0.001), and a significant rise in TAC concentrations (P<0.001) compared to the placebo group.
Summary of Effects of Chromium Supplementation| Chromium Group | Placebo | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy Rate | 16.7 % (5/30) | 3.3 % (1/30), | P=0.08* |
| Serum hs-CPR | (−717.0 ± 1496.1ng/mL) | (+227.1 ± 1669.6 ng/mL) | P=0.02 |
| Plasma MDA | (−0.1 ± 0.7 μmol/L) | (+1.1 ± 1.5 μmol/L) | P<0.001 |
| TAC | (+250.7 ± 265.2mmol/L) | (+13.0 ± 201.6 mmol/L) | P<0.001 |
| Alopecia | 16.7% | 6.7% | P=0.22* |
| Hirsutism | (−1.8 ± 2.5) | (-0.2 ± 0.8) | P=0.002 |
| Acne | 20.0 % | 3.3 % | P=0.04 |
| NO, GSH, Endocrine profile | *No significant changes | ||
There were no significant changes in endocrine profiles and NO and GSH levels following chromium supplementation.
Unfortunately the effects of chromium supplementation on serum chromium concentrations were not included in the panel of tests because of limited funds. Also, patients who had impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance might have added value to the study had they not been excluded from it. Overall, chromium supplementation had “beneficial effects on acne, hirsutism, hs-CRP, TAC, and MDA levels” but had no effect on endocrine profiles, NO, and GSH.
Source: Mehri Jamilian M., Bahmani F., Siavashani M.A., et al. The Effects of Chromium Supplementation on Endocrine Profiles, Biomarkers of Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Clinical Endocrinology (2015), 82, 885–891; doi: 10.1111/cen.12699
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Posted October 24, 2016.
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