Coronary heart disease: the zinc/copper hypothesis

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Epidemiology
• Cardiovascular Science

Background:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
• Metabolic factors are increasingly recognized as crucial in CHD etiology.
• The roles of essential trace elements like zinc and copper in metabolic health require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that a metabolic imbalance between zinc and copper contributes to the etiology of coronary heart disease.
• To examine the relationship between the zinc-to-copper ratio and hypercholesterolemia.
• To identify potential dietary and physiological factors influencing zinc and copper balance.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of epidemiologic data.
• Evaluation of metabolic data related to zinc and copper levels.
• Correlation of trace element imbalance with cardiovascular risk factors.

Main Results:

• Epidemiologic and metabolic data support a link between zinc and copper imbalance and CHD.
• A high zinc-to-copper ratio, indicative of copper deficiency, is associated with hypercholesterolemia.
• This imbalance may lead to increased mortality from coronary heart disease.

Conclusions:

• A metabolic imbalance, specifically a high zinc-to-copper ratio, is a significant factor in the etiology of coronary heart disease.
• Dietary intake, protective food substances, and physiological changes can influence zinc and copper distribution and contribute to this imbalance.
• The zinc-to-copper ratio may be a predominant risk factor for CHD, potentially more so than cholesterol.