Chromium attenuates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in KK/HlJ mice

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Evidence indicates that chromium has a role in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and may improve insulin sensitivity. In this study, we report that chromium supplementation has a beneficial effect against NAFLD. We found that KK/HlJ mice developed obesity and progressed to NAFLD after feeding with high-fat diet for 8 weeks. High-fat-fed KK/HlJ mice showed hepatocyte injury and hepatic triglyceride accumulation, which was accompanied by insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Chromium supplementation prevented progression of NAFLD and the beneficial effects were accompanied by reduction of hepatic triglyceride accumulation, elevation of hepatic lipid catabolic enzyme, improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism, suppression of inflammation as well as resolution of oxidative stress, probably through enhancement of insulin signaling. Our findings suggest that chromium could serve as a hepatoprotective agent against NAFLD.