Scope

To investigate the effects of chromium histidinate (CrHis) and chromium picolinate (CrPic) complex along with biotin to a high‐fat diet (HFD) fed to rats on the insulin sensitivity and the anti‐obesity properties.

Methods

Forty‐two Sprague–Dawley male rats were divided into six groups. The rats were fed either (a): a standard diet (Control) or (b): a HFD or (c): a HFD with biotin (HFD+B) or (d): a combination of HFD and biotin along with CrPic (HFD + B + CrPic) or (e): a combination of HFD and biotin along with CrHis (HFD + B + CrHis) or (f): a combination of HFD and biotin along with CrHis and CrPic (HFD + B + CrHis + CrPic).

Results

Adding biotin with chromium to HFD improved the glucose, insulin, HOMA‐IR, leptin, lipid profile, with HFD+B+CrHis treatment being the most effective ( p = 0.0001). Serum, liver, and brain tissue Cr concentrations increased upon Cr supplementations ( p = 0.0001). Supplementing CrHis along with biotin to a HFD (HFD + B + CrHis) provided the greatest levels of GLUT‐1, GLUT‐3, PPAR‐γ, and IRS‐1, but the lowest level of NF‐κB in the brain and liver tissues.

Conclusion

Biotin supplementation with chromium complexes, CrHis in particular, to a HFD pose to be a potential therapeutic feature for the treatment of insulin resistance.