Zinc Status and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus—A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies

Abstract

Zinc is an essential trace element with proposed therapeutic effects in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), however, the associations between zinc status and the prospective risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and Type 2 DM have not been evaluated. The current systematic review aims to determine the relationships between zinc intake or plasma/serum zinc levels and prospective incidence of CVD and Type 2 DM. Fourteen papers describing prospective cohort studies were included, reporting either CVD (n = 91,708) and/or Type 2 DM (n = 334,387) outcomes. Primary analyses from four out of five studies reported no association between zinc intake and CVD events, when adjusted for multiple variables. Higher serum zinc level was associated with lower risk of CVD in three out of five studies; pronounced effects were observed in vulnerable populations, specifically those with Type 2 DM and patients referred to coronary angiography. The limited evidence available suggests no association between zinc status and Type 2 DM risk. Further investigations into the mechanisms of zinc’s action on the pathogenesis of chronic diseases and additional evidence from observational studies are required to establish a recommendation for dietary zinc in relation to the prevention of CVD and Type 2 DM.

The association between dietary antioxidants intakes and the risk of cardiovascular disease: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

“…In the present study, no significant difference was found between dietary zinc intake and CVD incidence, which is consistent with a systematic review of prospective cohort studies on the association between dietary zinc intake or serum zinc levels and the incidence of CVD (38). In contrast with our result, higher total dietary zinc intake (estimated by summing the zinc contribution of food items) was associated with a greater incidence of CVD in a large longitudinal study on Australian women.…”

Dietary zinc intake and whole blood zinc concentration in subjects with type 2 diabetes versus healthy subjects: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression

“…Zinc is an essential trace element that is directly implicated in the physiology of glucose metabolism, participating in the synthesis, storage, secretion, action and translocation of insulin into the cells [1][2][3], as well as translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface for glucose transport into the insulin responsive cells [4]. Disturbances in zinc homeostasis may play a role in the pathogenesis [5,6], pathophysiology [7][8][9] and control [10][11][12] of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In addition, it has been observed that T2DM patients with a good glycemic control had a higher zinc status compared to those with poor glycemic control [13].…”

Zinc against advanced glycation end products

“…It works as co‐factor in various enzymes and proteins and possesses antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic properties . Multiple evidence has indicated the protective effects of zinc against several chronic diseases such as diabetes . Numerous in vitro and animal model studies have demonstrated the anti‐glycation impact of zinc …”

“…6,7 Multiple evidence has indicated the protective effects of zinc against several chronic diseases such as diabetes. 8,9 Numerous in vitro and animal model studies have demonstrated the anti-glycation impact of zinc. 10,11 Despite the large number of important researches, zinc has not been applied as a therapeutic intervention in humans in part due to the fact that information on its anti-glycation effects has not been yet summarized.…”