Absorption of the biomimetic chromium cation triaqua-mu3-oxo-mu-hexapropionatotrichromium(III) in rats.

The cation [Cr3O(O2CCH2CH3)6(H2O)3]+ has been shown in vitro to mimic to the oligopeptide chromodulin's ability to stimulate the tyrosine kinase activity of insulin receptor and shown in healthy and type 2 diabetic model rats to increase insulin sensitivity and decrease plasma total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. However, the degree to which the complex is absorbed after gavage administration to rats had not been previously determined. The biomimetic cation at nutritional supplement levels is absorbed with greater than 60% efficiency, and at pharmacological levels, it is absorbed with greater than 40% efficiency, an order of magnitude greater absorption than that of CrCl3, Cr nicotinate, or Cr picolinate, currently marketed nutritional supplements. The difference in degree of absorption is readily explained by the stability and solubility of the cation.