Zinc Deficiency found to Increase Plasma Lipids and Atherosclerotic Changes.

A study conducted in collaboration at the University of Kentucky, the University of Missouri-Columbia, and Vanderbilt University and published in the September Journal of Nutrition (135:2114-2118) found that low plasma zinc levels may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers hypothesized that zinc deficiency would increase heart disease, while zinc supplementation would decrease it.

LDL receptor-deficient mice were fed either a zinc-free diet, a normal zinc (control) diet, or a zinc-supplemented diet for 4 weeks. Mice fed the zinc-deficient diet had significantly increased concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides. The zinc supplemented group had decreased lipid concentrations compared with the control group. Researchers found significantly elevated concentrations of glutathione reductase in the thoracic aorta of zinc-deficient mice, indicating increased oxidative stress. Additionally, other markers of inflammation were significantly increased in the zinc-deficient mice compared with mice of the control or supplemented groups.

Researchers stated that their findings provided in vivo evidence that zinc deficiency induces proinflammatory, atherogenic changes that are known causes of cardiovascular disease.

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