Is chromium an important element in HIV-positive patients with metabolic abnormalities? An hypothesis generating pilot study.

BACKGROUND

Chromium plays a role in insulin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVES

To compare chromium measurements in HIV-positive patients with or without (N) antiretroviral therapy (ART) to that of healthy controls (HC) and, to determine if there is any association between chromium levels and abnormalities in body composition, glucose and lipid metabolism.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study in 91 HIV patients (75 HIV-ART, 16 HIV-N) and 13 HC. Chromium was assessed in the diet, plasma, toenails, and urine. Fasting blood glycemia and lipids, lipodystrophy score and body fat were also determined.

RESULTS

Dietary intake of chromium was similar in the 3 groups. Plasma and toenail Cr were lower in HIV compared to HC, but urinary chromium was similar. However, when the HIV-positive patients on ART were compared to those who were naïve to therapies, urinary excretion of chromium was higher in HIV-ART. In addition, urinary excretion of chromium significantly and positively correlated with lipodystrophy score and negatively with various parameters of metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Despite a similar dietary intake, chromium levels were lower in HIV-positive patients and urinary chromium excretion correlated with some metabolic parameters. Low chromium levels may be due to increased chromium losses. These results support further studies on chromium in HIV patients.