Serum Cholesterol and Glucose Levels in Rats Fed Refined and Less Refined Sugars and Chromium

Abstract

Refined sugar (sucrose) contains less chromium than partly refined sugar. Because human hypercholesteremia and diabetes mellitus have been believed associated with the consumption of sugar, 200 weanling rats were given a low chromium diet of Torula yeast, lard and sucrose, with essential trace metals in drinking water, to ascertain effects on fasting serum cholesterol and glucose levels. Groups were given white sugar containing 0.02 ppm Cr without and with chromium (III) supplementation (5 ppm in drinking water), less refined “raw” sugar containing 0.06 ppm Cr, and still less refined brown sugar with 0.12 ppm Cr. Serum cholesterol levels were relatively elevated and increased with age in the group receiving white sugar; in that given white sugar plus chromium or brown sugar they were low. Effects were similar in both sexes. Younger rats fed raw sugar had lower levels than those fed white. Fasting serum glucose was relatively low in rats fed brown sugar and in females fed white plus chromium; minimal effects occurred in those given “raw” sugar. These data offer evidence that refined sugar without chromium can relatively elevate serum cholesterol and glucose levels, and that chromium(III) can lower both substances.