Effects of Chromium Picolinate on in Vitro Lipogenesis and Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue and Protein Synthesis in Liver Tissue of Pigs

The effects of chromium picolinate supplementation in pig diet were evaluated by measuring the in vitro lipogenic and lipolytic activities in adipose tissue and the protein synthetic activity in liver acinar cell in culture. Thirty-two male and thirty-two female pigs were randomly assigned to one of four dietary groups: Control, 100 ppb, 200 ppb, and 400 ppb of Cr in the form of picolinate. The chromium picolinate supplementation (p < 0.01) increased the in vitro lipolytic activity in adipose tissue of pig, but had no effects on lipogenesis. The chromium picolinate effect was greater in female pigs than in male pigs on lipolytic activity. The results from the studies with the liver acinar cells in culture indicated that chromium picolinate supplementation increased protein synthetic activity (p < 0.05). It was observed through this experiment that chromium picolinate fonctions not only on fat degradation but also on retained protein synthesis.