The Effect of Chromium Picolinate Supplementation on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene Expression, and DNA Damage in Subjects with Metabolic Syndrome: a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a complex disorder characterized by metabolic dysregulations. While chromium picolinate (CrPic) has shown beneficial effects on metabolic parameters, its comprehensive effects and safety in MetS patients remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of CrPic supplementation on cardiometabolic indicators, DNA damage, and inflammatory markers in MetS patients. In this 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 48 subjects with MetS (based on NCEP ATP III criteria) were randomized to receive either 400 µg CrPic daily (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24). Primary outcomes included glycemic control (fasting blood sugar, HbA1c), lipid profile, DNA damage index (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine), and inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level and gene expression). Secondary outcomes were anthropometric measures and blood pressure. Forty participants (20 in each group) completed the study. CrPic supplementation significantly improved HbA1c (-0.68%, P = 0.005), HDL-c (+ 4.8 mg/dl, P = 0.008), and SBP (-4.8 mmHg, P = 0.012). After adjusting for confounding factors, improvements in HbA1c (-0.07 ± 0.02%, P = 0.001) and SBP (-8.84 ± 3.57 mmHg, P = 0.019) remained significant compared to placebo. CrPic showed no adverse effects on DNA damage markers or inflammatory cytokine expression. CrPic supplementation appears to be a safe intervention that can modestly improve glycemic control, HDL-c levels, and blood pressure in MetS patients. While these improvements were statistically significant, achieving clinically meaningful changes may require optimization of dosage and intervention duration.