Supplementation of Zinc May Protect Against Cardiovascular Disease

Filed in archive Studies , Treatment on June 30, 2006

According to a Singaporean animal study, zinc supplements may decrease the risk of heart disease.

atherosclerosis is a natural process that occurs in humans as part of aging whereby fatty substances such as cholesterol and calcium form plaque on the inner lining of an artery, causing them to harden. When enough plaque builds up, it can reduce blood flow through the artery, and if it ruptures blood clots can form, that can block the blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack.

This animal study from the National University of Singapore headed by Dr. Barry Halliwell found that supplementation of a high cholesterol diet with zinc reduced the formation of lesions in the arteries of rabbits, but the effects were not linked to changes in cholesterol levels.

The study was published on-line in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine (doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2006.03.017).

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