IGF1 and ischemic stroke: Lastly, chromium supplementation also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, particularly in regulating insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling.[60,61] Nezami et al found that patients with cerebrovascular accident had significantly higher levels of copper and lead and significantly lower levels of nickel.[62] However, the present study did not find an association between these 3 circulating metallic elements and ischemic stroke, which may be the result of potential confounding factors interfering.