Effect of chromium tripicolinate on growth, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, plasma metabolites, and growth hormone in pigs.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of Cr as Cr tripicolinate (CrPic) on growth, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, plasma metabolites, and growth hormone (GH) in pigs. Pigs were fed a control diet or a diet supplemented with 200 micrograms of Cr/kg of diet as CrPic. Thirty (15 per diet, initial BW was 21.3 kg) and 24 (12 per diet, initial BW was 24.9 kg) crossbred barrows were used in Exp. 1 and 2, respectively. The diets were formulated to provide 120% of the lysine requirement for 20- to 50-kg pigs. A glucose tolerance test (IVGTT; 500 mg of glucose/kg BW) and an insulin challenge test (IVICT; .1 IU of porcine insulin/kg BW) were conducted. In addition, during Exp. 1, a GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) challenge was conducted. All data were pooled across experiments, except where noted. Average daily gain, ADFI, gain/feed, and fasting (15 to 18 h) plasma glucose and total protein concentrations were not affected (P > .10) by dietary treatment. Fasting plasma cholesterol (P < .05) was increased and NEFA (Exp. 2 only, P < .02), urea N (P < .07), and insulin (P < .10) concentrations were decreased in pigs fed CrPic. During the IVGTT and IVICT, glucose disappearance rate (k, percentage/minute) was increased (P < .04) and glucose half-life (t1/2, minutes) was decreased (P < .04) in pigs fed CrPic; however, insulin kinetics were not altered (P > .10). During the GHRH challenge, pigs fed CrPic had decreased (P < .09) area under the response curve for GH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)