Low zinc levels is associated with increased inflammatory activity but not with atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction among the very elderly

Abstract

BackgroundReduced zinc intake has been related to atherogenesis and arteriosclerosis. We verified this assumption in very old individuals, which are particularly prone to both zinc deficiency and structural and functional changes in the arterial wall.MethodsSubjects (n = 201, 80–102 years) with uneventful cardiovascular history and who were not in use of anti-inflammatory treatments in the last 30-days were enrolled. Daily intake of zinc, lipid profile, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma zinc, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid ultrasonography and cardiac computed tomography were obtained. Young's Elastic Modulus, Stiffness Index and Artery Compliance were calculated.ResultsThere was no significant difference in clinical or laboratorial data between subjects grouped according to plasma zinc tertile, except for CRP (p = 0.01) and blood leukocytes (p = 0.002), of which levels were higher in the upper tertiles. The average daily intake of zinc was not significantly correlated with zinc or CRP plasma levels.The plasma zinc/zinc intake ratio was inversely correlated with plasma CRP levels (− 0.18; p = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the plasma zinc tertiles and FMD, carotid intima–media thickness, coronary calcium score, carotid plaque presence, remodeled noncalcified coronary plaques, or low-attenuation noncalcified coronary plaques.ConclusionAlthough plasma zinc level is inversely related to systemic inflammatory activity, its plasma levels of daily intake are not associated to alterations in structure or function of the arterial wall.General significanceIn the very elderly plasma concentrations or daily intake of zinc is not related to endothelial dysfunction, arteriosclerosis or atherosclerotic burden at coronary or carotid arteries.

Zinc deficiency and its predictive capacity for anemia: Unique model in school children

“…Children with leukocytosis were excluded due to the inverse association of serum zinc with inflammation. 19 At first glance, the observation of hypoferritinemia in the zinc-deficient child with the lowest Hb in the whole group, and the low ferritin in the child with the lowest Hb in the control group, could suggest that anemia is secondary to decreased ferritin. Statistical analysis of the whole group, however, supported the reverse.…”

“…We measured non‐fasting levels of all parameters in order to ensure consistency. Children with leukocytosis were excluded due to the inverse association of serum zinc with inflammation …”

Increased Zinc Serum Level: New Clues in Babol Stroke Patients, Northern Iran

“…In Qi et al study, opposite direction about role of zinc was concluded that can lead to protective or harmful result [ 11 ]. The De Paula et al study expressed that enormous and transient zinc accumulation during cerebral ischemia was significantly involved in brain damage through promotion of neuronal apoptotic death, so removing zinc can be a means of reducing ischemic brain injury [ 14 ]. Tomas-Sanchez et al found that despite the neuroprotective role of lower doses of zinc against cerebral ischemia, zinc accumulation leads to cytotoxicity, neuroinflammation, neuronal death, and cerebral dysfunction [ 15 ].…”

“…The colorimetric method had been used for the determination of zinc levels in 560 nm. Serum level of zinc was defined as 70–120 μ g/dl and lower than 70 μ g/dl was considered a zinc deficiency while levels above 120 μ g/dl were considered increased zinc level [ 14 ].…”

Analysis of Alpha-2 Macroglobulin from the Long-Lived and Cancer-Resistant Naked Mole-Rat and Human Plasma

“…Thus, high levels of A2M in NMR may be important to maintain zinc homeostasis [ 51 ]. In this line it is important to know that mainly elderly people suffer from a zinc deficiency, which comes along with an immune deficiency and other age-related diseases [ 52 – 54 ].…”