EFFECT OF CHROMIUM PICOLINATE ADMINISTRATION ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN RAT MUSCLES UNDER METABOLIC SYNDROME CONDITIONS

Introduction. Over 1 billion people worldwide are affected by obesity, including approximately 650 million adults, 340 million adolescents, and 39 million children. According to WHO projections, 167 million individuals are expected to be overweight or obese by 2025. Obesity is a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a transcription factor p38 activation inducer on antioxidant enzyme activity, superoxide anion radical production, oxidatively modified protein levels, and malondialdehyde concentration in the biceps femoris muscle of rats under experimental metabolic syndrome conditions. Materials and methods. The study involved 24 sexually mature male Wistar rats weighing 200–260 g, divided into four groups: a control group; a metabolic syndrome model group, which was formed by providing a 20% fructose solution as the sole drinking source alongside a standard vivarium diet for 60 days; a chromium picolinate administration group, where chromium picolinate was administered orally at a dose of 80 μg/kg daily for 60 days; and a combined group subjected to both chromium picolinate administration and metabolic syndrome modeling. In a 10% homogenate of the biceps femoris muscle, the following parameters were analyzed: superoxide production, superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, malondialdehyde content, and levels of oxidatively modified proteins. Results. The administration of chromium picolinate during metabolic syndrome modeling significantly reduced oxidative stress in the biceps femoris muscle of rats. Basal superoxide production decreased by 25.7%, while superoxide production by microsomes and mitochondria decreased by 18.8% and 24.4%, respectively, compared to the metabolic syndrome group. Additionally, superoxide dismutase activity increased by 60.5%, and catalase activity rose by 52.6%. The concentration of malondialdehyde decreased by 41.2%, and the content of oxidatively modified proteins was reduced by 34.3%. Conclusion. Chromium picolinate administration under metabolic syndrome conditions effectively mitigates oxidative damage to lipids and proteins in rat skeletal muscle. This is achieved through a reduction in reactive oxygen species production and the restoration of antioxidant enzyme activity.