International Journal of Medical Science and Pharmaceutical Research

Objective: To evaluate the current evidence on chromium (Cr) supplementation in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases covering the period from 1965 to May 2024, with no language restrictions applied. Review articles and in vivo or in vitro experimental studies were excluded. Only clinical studies in humans with rheumatic diseases were considered eligible.

Results: The search yielded no clinical studies investigating chromium supplementation in patients with rheumatic diseases. Some observational studies evaluated serum chromium levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but their findings were inconsistent. Moreover, animal models of rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated potential anti-inflammatory effects of chromium supplementation, comparable to those of prednisolone. However, these results are not directly translatable to humans.

Conclusion: Currently, there is no published clinical evidence supporting the use of chromium supplementation in patients with rheumatic diseases. Future clinical trials are warranted to investigate its potential therapeutic role.

Rheumatic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, chromium, trace element.

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