Effects of Chromium and Carnitine Co-supplementation on Body Weight and Metabolic Profiles in Overweight and Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#adult #body-weight #carnitine #chromium #dietary-supplements

Effects of Chromium and Carnitine Co-supplementation on Body Weight and Metabolic Profiles in Overweight and Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Jamilian et al., 2020 | Biol Trace Elem Res | Rct

Citation

Jamilian Mehri, Foroozanfard Fatemeh, ... Asemi Zatollah. Effects of Chromium and Carnitine Co-supplementation on Body Weight and Metabolic Profiles in Overweight and Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020-Feb;193(2):334-341. doi:10.1007/s12011-019-01720-8

Abstract

The primary aim of our study was to determine the influence of taking chromium plus carnitine on insulin resistance, with a secondary objective of evaluating the influences on lipid profiles and weight loss in overweight subjects with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 54 overweight women were randomly assigned to receive either supplements (200 μg/day chromium picolinate plus 1000 mg/day carnitine) or placebo (27/each group). Chromium and carnitine co-supplementation decreased weight (- 3.6 ± 1.8 vs. - 1.0 ± 0.7 kg, P < 0.001), BMI (- 1.3 ± 0.7 vs. - 0.3 ± 0.3 kg/m2, P < 0.001), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (- 5.1 ± 6.0 vs. - 1.1 ± 4.9 mg/dL, P = 0.01), insulin (- 2.0 ± 1.4 vs. - 0.2 ± 1.2 μIU/mL, P < 0.001), insulin resistance (- 0.5 ± 0.4 vs. - 0.04 ± 0.3, P < 0.001), triglycerides (- 18.0 ± 25.2 vs. + 5.5 ± 14.4 mg/dL, P < 0.001), total (- 17.0 ± 20.3 vs. + 3.6 ± 12.0 mg/dL, P < 0.001), and LDL cholesterol (- 13.3 ± 19.2 vs. + 1.4 ± 13.3 mg/dL, P = 0.002), and elevated insulin sensitivity (+ 0.007 ± 0.005 vs. + 0.002 ± 0.005, P < 0.001). In addition, co-supplementation upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (P = 0.02) and low-density lipoprotein receptor expression (P = 0.02). Overall, chromium and carnitine co-supplementation for 12 weeks to overweight women with PCOS had beneficial effects on body weight, glycemic control, lipid profiles except HDL cholesterol levels, and gene expression of PPAR-γ and LDLR. Clinical trial registration number: http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20170513033941N38.

Key Findings

Clinical trial registration number: http://www.irct.ir: IRCT20170513033941N38.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population polycystic ovary syndrome
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Body Weight
  • Carnitine
  • Chromium
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Metabolome
  • Metabolomics
  • Obesity
  • Overweight
  • PPAR gamma
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • Receptors, LDL
  • Young Adult

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: chromium-weight

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09