Chromium And Glucose Tolerance In Pregnancy - Brief Article

Nutrition Research Newsletter, Feb, 2001 by Jenny E. Gunton, Graham Hams, Rosemary Hitchman, Aidan McElduff

Chromium is considered an essential nutrient for humans. After extensive research, chromium is believed to be an insulin-sensitizing agent that helps promote insulin attachment to insulin receptors. A diet deficient in chromium may cause the development of diabetes mellitus. However, serum concentrations of chromium are not well characterized during pregnancy or in gestational diabetes mellitus.

To further research this topic, a group of Australian researchers studied the relationship between low plasma chromium concentrations ([is less than] 3 nmol/L) and altered glucose, insulin, or lipid concentrations during pregnancy. The authors hypothesized that low chromium levels might be associated with insulin resistance and possibly with hyperglycemia or hypertriglyceridemia.

Seventy-nine women with abnormal results of a 50-g glucose challenge test in their third trimester of pregnancy were included in the study. All women had a formal 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Fasting insulin, lipid, and chromium concentrations were determined.

Twenty-five women or 31.6% of the population had gestational diabetes according the criteria of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society. The median chromium concentration was 2 nmol/L. Approximately 34% of women with low chromium concentrations ([is less than or equal to] 3 nmol/L) had gestational diabetes and 27.3% of the women with normal chromium levels had gestational diabetes. The median chromium concentrations did not differ significantly between women with normal and those with abnormal glucose tolerance. There were no significant differences in age, plasma glucose, insulin, lipids, calculated insulin resistance, or calculated [Beta] cell function between women with normal and those with abnormal chromium levels. There was a trend toward lower triacylglycerol concentrations in women with normal chromium levels, but the results were not significant. Body mass index was associated with fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, calculated [Beta] cell function, and insulin resistance.

The results of this study show that the measurement of chromium did not correlate with measurements of insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, or lipids in pregnant women. However, the findings did not indicate whether tissue concentrations of chromium are related to these measures. Previous studies have shown the beneficial effect of chromium supplementation on glucose tolerance, insulin, and lipids, but further research is need in this area.

Jenny E. Gunton, Graham Hams, Rosemary Hitchman, and Aidan McElduff, Serum Chromium Does Not Predict Glucose Tolerance in Late Pregnancy, Am J Clin Nutr 73: 99-104 (January 2001) [Address reprint requests to J.E. Gunton, Department of Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. E-mail: jennyeg@hotmail.com].