Impact of Chromium, Phyllanthus Emblica, and Shilajit on Cardiovascular Health, Fitness, and Weight Loss During Exercise and Diet Programs

Men and women with at least 2 markers of metabolic syndrome will participate in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel, and repeated measures intervention trial. Volunteers will participate in a standardized resistance training (3 sessions/week) and aerobic training (3 x 30 min sessions/week) program while reducing energy intake by 5 kcals/kg/d.

In a double-blind and randomized manner, participants will be matched by age, sex, BMI, and body mass to supplement their diet with placebo (PLA), 400 mcg of trivalent chromium with 6 mg of PE and 6 mg of SJ (Cr-400), or 800 mcg of trivalent chromium with 12 mg of PE and 12 mg of SJ (Cr-800), or 500 mg of PE (PE-500), or 1000 mg of PE (PE-1000) once a day after breakfast for 12-weeks.

Fasting blood samples, DEXA body composition, platelet aggregation, and ultrasound flow-mediated dilation (FMD) studies will be conducted at 0, 6, and 12 weeks of supplementation.

Inclusion criteria

• Sedentary males and females age 30-65 years with a BMI >30 and/or percent body fat >30%
• Medical clearance for participating in moderate to intense exercise training and testing;
• meet the 2006 International Diabetes Federation criteria for central obesity (ethnicity specific waist circumference) and any two risk factors to metabolic syndrome (i.e., fasting triglycerides > 150 mg/dL or treatment for high triglycerides, HDL <40 mg/dL in males and <50 mg/dL in female, resting SBP >130 mmHg or DBP >85 mmHg or treatment of previously diagnosed hypertension, blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl or previous diagnosis for Type II diabetes);
• Absence of limiting musculoskeletal injury that would prevent participation in a general fitness program; and,
• Has given voluntary, written, informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Participants will not be allowed to participate in the study if:

• they currently take or have taken nitrous oxide or anti-inflammatory type supplements or medications within one month of the start of the study;
• they have uncontrolled hypertension, triglycerides >500 mg/dL, elevated AST and ALT > 3 times the upper limit, and serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dL);
• They do not receive medical clearance from their personal physician to participate in the study and exercise program;
• They are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; and/or
• They are unable to complete at least 90% of the training.