Dietary zinc may play a role in cardiovascular disease treatment
Found in a variety of food sources including oysters, meat, legumes and dairy, dietary zinc plays an important role in cardiovascular health, albeit less well-known. To better understand zinc’s role, Monash Nutrition researcher Dr Chiara Murgia and colleagues from the University of Adelaide have collated research from around the world to unravel the relationship between poor zinc status and cardiovascular health.
In 1992, nitric oxide (NO) was named “molecule of the year” for its importance in vascular biology and its role in controlling blood pressure [1]. With NO’s important role recognised, zinc’s role in cardiovascular health began to emerge - adding another piece to the puzzle. Specifically, NO might not be fully effective in cardiovascular protection when there is an inadequate supply of zinc. Here, through a cascade of reactions, zinc plays an important role in protecting the vascular endothelium (i.e. lining of the blood vessels) against oxidative damage and inappropriate cell death [2].
Several vascular disease risk factors (including aging, smoking and diabetes) interfere with zinc status and appear linked to atherosclerosis. “Animal studies suggest that there may be an opportunity for patients with cardiovascular disease to be assisted by modifying dietary zinc intake,” commented Chiara. She further explained that “zinc may have a protective effect in cardiovascular disease because of its anti inflammatory and antioxidant functions” [3].
In discussing what’s next for the team, Chiara explained that they will be exploring the potential clinical benefit of combining zinc therapy with the traditional pharmacological management of cardiovascular disease. Chiara cautions however that “further studies need to be conducted to provide definitive evidence of zinc deficiency within the vascular endothelium of cardiovascular patients, and to investigate whether zinc dietary guidelines need to be adjusted for patients with cardiovascular disease”. These questions form the basis of the teams next project, which has recently been funded by the NHMRC.
More information
Dr Chiara Murgia is a researcher and lecturer with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University. Her research focuses on nutritional genomics, nutritional biochemistry, zinc biology and zinc requirements in relation to chronic disease. You can follow Chiara Twitter via: @chiamur
In 1992, nitric oxide (NO) was named “molecule of the year” for its importance in vascular biology and its role in controlling blood pressure [1]. With NO’s important role recognised, zinc’s role in cardiovascular health began to emerge - adding another piece to the puzzle. Specifically, NO might not be fully effective in cardiovascular protection when there is an inadequate supply of zinc. Here, through a cascade of reactions, zinc plays an important role in protecting the vascular endothelium (i.e. lining of the blood vessels) against oxidative damage and inappropriate cell death [2].
Several vascular disease risk factors (including aging, smoking and diabetes) interfere with zinc status and appear linked to atherosclerosis. “Animal studies suggest that there may be an opportunity for patients with cardiovascular disease to be assisted by modifying dietary zinc intake,” commented Chiara. She further explained that “zinc may have a protective effect in cardiovascular disease because of its anti inflammatory and antioxidant functions” [3].
In discussing what’s next for the team, Chiara explained that they will be exploring the potential clinical benefit of combining zinc therapy with the traditional pharmacological management of cardiovascular disease. Chiara cautions however that “further studies need to be conducted to provide definitive evidence of zinc deficiency within the vascular endothelium of cardiovascular patients, and to investigate whether zinc dietary guidelines need to be adjusted for patients with cardiovascular disease”. These questions form the basis of the teams next project, which has recently been funded by the NHMRC.
More information
Dr Chiara Murgia is a researcher and lecturer with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food at Monash University. Her research focuses on nutritional genomics, nutritional biochemistry, zinc biology and zinc requirements in relation to chronic disease. You can follow Chiara Twitter via: @chiamur
This research was conducted in collaboration with the University of Adelaide. Read the full article here.
Stay up to date with the Monash University Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food on Twitter via @MonashNutrition.
Image credit: Charles Koh via Unsplash.
References:
1. Koshland DE. The molecule of the year. Science. 1992; 258(5090): 1861. Available from http://science.sciencemag.org/content/258/5090/1861. DOI: 10.1126/science.1470903
2. Zalewski PD, Beltrame JF, Wawer AA, Abdo AI, Murgia C. Roles for endothelial zinc homeostasis in vascular physiology and coronary artery disease. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2018. Available from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2018.1495614. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2018.1495614
3. Bao B, Prasad AS, Beck FW, Fitzgerald JT, Snell D.Bao GW, Singh T, Cardozo LJ. Zinc decreases C-reactive protein, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines in elderly subjects: a potential implication of zinc as an atheroprotective agent. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2010; 91: 1634-1641. DOI: doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28836
