EFFECTS OF CHROMIUM III CHLORIDE ON LIPID AND GLUCOSE METABOLISM IN MALE WISTAR RATS EXPOSED TO LEAD ACETATE

ABSTRACT Heavy metal exposure is documented to alter glucose and lipid metabolism processes. Chromium III chloride is an essential trace element crucial for human health due to its role in improving insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Hence, this study investigates the mitigating effects of chromium III chloride on glucose and lipid profiles in male Wistar rats exposed to lead acetate. Twenty male Wistar rats weighing 95-120g were randomly divided equally into four groups and treated as Control (Group 1) animals were given water only, group 2 was administered with 0.3 mg/kg of Chromium III chloride, group 3 animals were administered with 15 mg/kg of lead acetate and group 4 animals were given 0.3 mg /kg of Chromium III chloride and 15 mg/kg of Lead acetate. Lead acetate and Chromium III chloride was administered orally for 45 days. The body weight, relative organ weights, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, insulin, and leptin levels were evaluated. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and presented as mean and standardand standard error of mean with significant association at P < 0.05. Lead acetate significantly increased body weight, liver weight, blood glucose, cholestetolcholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins, leptin, and insulin levels while decreasing relative testicular and kidney weight significantly when compared to the control group. Chromium III chloride significantly increased the body weight, relative liver weight, insulin, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high- density lipoprotein, leptin and insulin levels but decreased the relative kidney weight significantly when compared to the control group. Chromium III chloride combined with lead acetate significantly increased cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, leptin and insulin levels when compared to the control group but significantly increased blood glucose levels when compared to the group exposed to lead acetate alone. Relative kidney weight of the group exposed to both chromium III chloride and lead acetate decreased significantly. Hence, lead acetate indeedacetate indeed impairs lipid and glucose metabolism. However, chromium III chloride even though administered in minute quantity does not have any beneficial effect on lipid and glucose metabolism by significantly increasing the levels of metablolicmetabolic parameters alongside lead acetate, as speculated by previous studies. Thus, chromium III chloride has no mitigating effect on the toxicological effect established by lead acetate regarding glucose and lipid metabolism. This study reveals that chromium III chloride has no beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism. Keywords: Lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism, lead acetate, chromium III chloride, Wistar rats.