Effect of zinc supplementation on plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and zinc

The recent report by Hooper PL, et al. (JAMA 1980;244:1960-1) that pharmacological doses (160 mg) of zinc lowered high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in men and that zinc might be an atherogenic agent prompted this report of the effect of zinc supplementation on HDL-cholesterol in women. Four levels of zinc supplements (0, 15, 50, or 100 mg/day) were given to 32 women for 8 wk. Fasting plasma HDL-cholesterol and zinc were measured at biweekly intervals. Plasma zinc increased in the supplemented groups, peaked at wk 4, then decreased toward initial values. The decline in plasma zinc regardless of continuing zinc administration may reflect a homeostatic response. No significant differences were seen in HDL-cholesterol over the 8 wk except in the 100 mg group at wk 4 when a transient decrease, -8.4% (57 to 48 mg/dl, p less than 0.04) was observed. Thus we conclude that in women the reduction in HDL-cholesterol in response to the pharmacological doses of zinc used in this study was transient and not dose-related.