Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with the adverse cardiovascular risk. Chromium is an essential nutrient and its role in the carbohydrate and lipid metabolism has not been clarified, especially in Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chromium supplementation on the blood glucose, lipid profile and lipids peroxidation in type 2 diabetic patients.

Materials and Methods: Fifty type 2 diabetic patients were selected. They consumed 200 µg chromium capsule twice daily for 6 weeks. Subjects were instructed not to change their normal eating and habitual lifestyle. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were measured and analyzed at the bigining and end of the study.

Results: Results revealed that the chromium consumption in type 2 diabetic patients reduced fasting blood glucose (48.3%, P≤0.01), total cholesterol (6.28%, P≤0.02), triglyceride (11.36%, P<0.1), LDL (17.28%, P<0.5), and MDA (11.37%, P<0.5), but HDL level was increased (5.78%, P<0.5).

Conclusion: Results of this study indicate that chromium supplementation has a beneficial effect on blood glucose, lipid profile and lipids peroxidation in the type 2 diabetic patients.