Excess vascular inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. This study examined the comparative effects of ChromeMate®, a unique form of oxygen-coordinated niacin-bound chromium (also known as chromium nicotinate), and chromium picolinate on the biomarkers of insulin sensitivity, vascular inflammation and CVD risk factors, including tumor necrosis factor-α  (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), lipid peroxidation (LP), c-reactive proteins (CRP), glycated hemoglobin (HbA₁), cholesterol (Chol) and triglycerides (TG) in streptozotocin-treated diabetic rats, a powerful model for this investigation. In a different set of experiments, the protective effects of these chromium supplements were investigated on pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8 and Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 (MCP-1), in high glucose (HG)-treated cultured U937 monocyte cells. ChromeMate was shown to be significantly more effective than chromium picolinate in inhibiting the secretion of these important biomarkers.  ChromeMate-supplemented animals showed a 12% lower level of HbA₁, an indicator of glucose control and long-term blood sugar status, while chromium picolinate treatment had no significant effect.  ChromeMate also reduced triglyceride and total cholesterol levels by 52% and 26%, respectively, compared to the untreated group, while chromium picolinate showed no significant decrease in these biomarkers. ChromeMate supplementation significantly lowered CRP levels in diabetic rats, while chromium picolinate had no effect.  Both ChromeMate and chromium picolinate resulted in lower levels of TNF-α. Similarly, the effect of HG on IL-6, IL-8 and MCP-1 secretion in cultured monocytes was abolished by ChromeMate, and to a lesser extent by chromium picolinate. This study shows that chromium supplementation may increase insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of CVD in diabetes.  The study also showed ChromeMate to be more effective than chromium picolinate in improving glucose controls by lowering HbA₁ levels and in reducing specific CVD risk factors, including CRP, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels in this diabetic animal model.

Source:  Jain SK, Rains JL, Croad JL, Effect of Chromium Niacinate and Chromium Picolinate Supplementation on Lipid Peroxidation, TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, Glycated Hemoglobin, Triglycerides, and Cholesterol Levels in Blood of Streptozotocin-Treated Diabetic Rats. Free Radical Biology & Medicine 43: 1124-1131 (2007).