Doxorubicin is a potent anthracycline antibiotic used to treat many types of human neoplasms. The long-term adverse effect is cardiomyopathy, which is primarily caused by the extensive production of reactive oxygen species, which relates to several events related to nucleic acid metabolism and the activation of the immune system. Chromium is a trace element mostly utilized to regulate glucose levels and enhance the body's response to insulin, particularly in people with diabetes. Chromium picolinate often contains Chromium in its trivalent state, coupled with picolinic acid. The current study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of chromium picolinate in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity of rats. Twenty eight Wister male rats were used in this study and divided into 4 groups. Group I (Control group): Rats were given distilled water orally for 8 days. The rats were euthanized on the ninth day. Group II (Doxorubicin group): Rats were given distilled water orally for 7 days, followed by a single dose of doxorubicin (25 mg/kg) IP. The rats were euthanized on the ninth day. Group III (Chromium 2 mg/kg): Rats were given chromium picolinate at a dose (2 mg /kg) orally for 7 days, followed by a single dose of doxorubicin (25 mg/kg) IP. The rats were euthanized on the ninth day. Group IV (Chromium 4 mg/kg): Rats were given chromium picolinate at a dose (4 mg /kg) orally for 7 days, followed by a single dose of doxorubicin (25 mg/kg) IP. The rats were euthanized on the ninth day. The outcome of this study indicated that single IP dose of doxorubicin (25mg/kg) resulted in a significant elevation in cardiac creatine kinase MB, lactate dehydrogenase, and inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin1β and Tumor necrosis factor α) in group 2 compared to group 1 (P<0.05). Interestingly, co administration of chromium picolinate at dose (2mg/kg) and (4mg/kg) caused a significant decrease in cardiac biomarkers and inflammatory cytokines in groups 3 and 4 compared to group 2 (P<0.05).This current research indicated that Chromium picolinate have a potential role in reducing cardiac injury and inflammation in patients treated with doxorubicin.
Khalifa et al. (2026) studied this question.