Zinc Reduces Inflammatory Risk Factors for Heart Disease

In a newly published study, 20 healthy adults ages 56-83 were given 45 mg of zinc¹ every day for 6 months and compared to a control group of 20 healthy adults taking a placebo (no zinc).  The zinc-taking adults had significant reduction in inflammatory factors that are otherwise known to directly contribute to cardiovascular disease.  This new study supports recent other studies showing that a lack of zinc increases the risk for early death.

Zinc, like magnesium, is a mineral that is vital to the function of numerous enzymes involved in human health including inflammation reduction.  Zinc is especially important for immunity, boosting infection-fighting systems as well as reducing the risk for prostate cancer.

The current study showed that zinc lowered the levels of C-reactive protein CRP C-reactive protein. It is an acute phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation. It is a general way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. A more sensitive test for heart disease risk is hs-CRP, highly sensitive CRP. . It is an acute phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation. It is a general way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. A more sensitive test for heart disease risk is hs- CRP C-reactive protein. It is an acute phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation. It is a general way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. A more sensitive test for heart disease risk is hs-CRP, highly sensitive CRP. , highly sensitive CRP C-reactive protein. It is an acute phase protein that increases during systemic inflammation. It is a general way to assess cardiovascular disease risk. A more sensitive test for heart disease risk is hs-CRP, highly sensitive CRP. . , interleukin 6 Type of inflammatory cytokine secreted by T cells and macrophage Type of white blood cell designed to "eat up" debris and pathogens. It also stimulates various cells to respond to pathogens. that act as both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory in response to trauma, burns, and other tissue damage that leads to inflammation., macrophage Type of white blood cell designed to "eat up" debris and pathogens. It also stimulates various cells to respond to pathogens. chemoattractant protein 1 aka: MCP-1. Plays a significant in the recruitment of monocytes and lymphocytes to sites of cellular immune reactions., vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 Type of protein that mediates the adhesion of lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils to vascular epithileum. It may play a role in the develop of atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis., secretory phospholipase A2 sPLA2 is a type of enzyme recognized as independent predictor of cardiovascular events. It is linked with inflammatory processes and lipid accumulation in atherosclerosis., malondialdehyde Naturally occurring product of lipid perioxidation/breakdown and prostaglandin synthesis that is mutagenic and carcinogenic by reacting with DNA. It is involved with advanced lipoxidation end products (ALE) analogous to AGE., and hydroxyalkenals Associated with class of oxidized phospholipids derived from lipid peroxidation of arachidoic or lineolic acid..  Each of these compounds, when elevated, indicate either inflammatory or free radical damage is occurring within the circulation in a way that contributes to cardiovascular disease.  The fact that a simple mineral, zinc, can influence so many different mechanisms involved with cardiovascular health now places zinc as a must take nutrient for those at higher levels of risk or concern.

Zinc is especially known to be helpful during aging.  This study was conducted in older, healthy individuals.