Zinc is a vital nutrient required by the human body to main proper health. A large number of important biochemical processes require zinc, including the immune response, wound healing and cell growth. Although a deficiency in zinc can cause a wide variety of symptoms, changes in blood pressure are not commonly associated with zinc deficiency. If you suspect you have a zinc deficiency, consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.
Blood Pressure Studies in Humans
Limited laboratory data suggest a possible link between zinc and blood pressure, including a small study examining zinc levels in people with high blood pressure compared to people with normal blood pressure, reports an article published in the November 1997 issue of the "Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology." However, additional supporting data from large-scale clinical trials is needed to confirm this association.
Additional Research
Studies of the link between zinc and blood pressure in animals have produced mixed results. While some studies in rats have found a link between zinc and blood pressure, other studies have found no link. The National Institutes of Health and other large medical bodies do not recognize changes in blood pressure as a symptom of zinc deficiency, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements.
Blood Pressure Medications
If you have high blood pressure and are taking blood pressure medications, you may experience an increased risk for zinc deficiency, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. One class of blood pressure medications, known as ACE inhibitors, has been linked to decreases in zinc levels in the blood. ACE inhibitors include benazepril, lisinopril, perindopril, trandolapril and others.
Deficiency Symptoms
The well-known symptoms of a zinc deficiency include delayed growth and sexual maturity, severe chronic diarrhea, recurring skin lesions, loss of taste sensation, and hair loss. A zinc deficiency may also cause appetite loss, weight loss, inability to heal wounds and decreased immune response, which may lead to increased infections and illness, reports the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. The symptoms of a zinc deficiency are often nonspecific and may be caused by other disorders, making diagnosis of a zinc deficiency difficult.
References
- "Biological Trace Element Research"; Dietary Zn Deficiency Does Not Influence Systemic Blood Pressure and Vascular Nitric Oxide Signaling in Normotensive Rats; M. Sato, et al.; February 2003
- "Pediatric Research"; Moderate Zinc Deficiency Influences Arterial Blood Pressure and Vascular Nitric Oxide Pathway in Growing Rats; A.L. Tomat, et al.; October 2005
- "Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology"; Zinc and Copper Status and Blood Pressure; M Bergomi, et al.; November 1997
- Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health: Zinc
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Zinc; Jane Higdon, et al.; February 2008
