Chromium chloride

Chromium chloride is a trivalent chromium compound and one of the sources of trace elements essential for the body. It enhances insulin-mediated GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake, regulates glucose and lipid metabolism, and inhibits oxidative stress and the production of inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α). In addition, chromium chloride can reduce lipid deposits in blood vessels and lower serum cholesterol levels, and is commonly used in research related to type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and atherosclerosis.

Method: Human U937 monocytic cells were treated with high glucose (HG) or H₂O₂, in the presence of various concentrations of chromium trichloride (CrCl₃, 0–1000 μM) for 24 h. TNF-α secretion in the cell culture supernatant was measured using ELISA. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed by HPLC to evaluate lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl levels were measured to evaluate protein oxidation.
Result: At the cellular level, CrCl₃ dose-dependently inhibited the HG- or H₂O₂‑induced increase in TNF-α secretion from U937 cells. Concurrently, CrCl₃ significantly suppressed HG- or H₂O₂‑induced lipid peroxidation (elevated MDA) and protein oxidation (elevated protein carbonyls), and reversed the inhibitory effect of H₂O₂ on cell growth ^[1].

Method: Male New Zealand white rabbits were fed a diet containing 2% cholesterol for 30 days, followed by intramuscular injection of CrCl₃ (1 mg/kg, dissolved in normal saline, administered at 4 sites daily, 6 days per week, for 6 weeks). At the end of the experiment, heart and aortic arch sections were collected and stained with Oil Red O, and lipid deposition areas were quantified using a computer-based image analysis method. Serum total cholesterol levels and biochemical parameters related to liver and kidney function were also measured.
Result: CrCl₃ injection significantly reduced lipid deposition areas in the coronary arteries and ascending aorta of hypercholesterolemic rabbits, and significantly decreased serum total cholesterol levels. Meanwhile, the CrCl₃ group showed significant reductions in serum alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, and HDL-C levels, along with a marked increase in serum chromium concentration. No specific histopathological lesions were observed in liver or kidney tissues ^[2].