Mineral Factors Controlling Essential Hypertension—a Study in the Chandigarh, India Population

Abstract

Essential hypertension (EH) is a major public health problem world over and in India. Recent data on EH in the population of Chandigarh (Union Territory and capital of Punjab and Haryana States of India) revealed that the prevalence of EH has become double in the last 30 years in the residents of Chandigarh (26.9 to 45.80% in the year 1968 and 2002). Zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), and manganese (Mn) in the serum are considered important in maintaining the human hypertension. The high Zn intake was considered to increase the blood pressure (BP) and to affect the other mineral status in the body. Recent survey on the trace metal status of different vegetables in the State of Punjab around Chandigarh (India) revealed that Zn level is significantly higher (40 mg/kg or more in above ground vegetables and 120 mg/kg or above in underground vegetables) in underground water-irrigated vegetables, but the levels of Cu and Mg are within prescribed limit. The present study was conducted on Chandigarh population to evaluate the levels of Zn, Cu, Mg, and Mn in the blood and urine of normotensive (NT) control and hypertensive (HT) subjects matched with number, age and sex. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer studies reevaluated that the levels of serum Zn, Mg, and Mn were significantly higher (p < 0.001), but the level of Cu was low in the HT subjects (BP = 160/93) compared to NT control (BP = 140/83). Higher levels of urinary Zn, Cu, Mg, and Mn were observed in the HT subject vs NT control (p < 0.001). Positive correlations were evaluated between the levels of serum Zn, Mg, and Mn vs systolic and diastolic pressures (DP and SP), respectively (r = 0.928, 0.863, 0.876, 0.808, 0.404, 0.326, p < 0.01), but negative and positive nonsignificant correlations between the serum Cu with SP and DP were recorded (r = -0.032, r = 0.024). Positive correlations were also evaluated between urinary levels of Zn, Cu, Mg, and Mn vs SP and DP (r = 0.718, 0.657, 0.750, 0.681, 0.630, 0.578, 0.516, 0.461, p < 0.01). Prevalence of essential hypertension may be due to higher Zn level in the food chain that makes the individuals vulnerable to other diseases over the time related to essential hypertension.

Molecular Basis of Hypertension: A Systematic Review on the Role of Metal Ions for Increase Prevalence of Hypertension in India

“…Among the different metal ions, it seems that Zn is an important metal ion which plays a role in the pathogenesis of essential HT [39]. In interesting studies carried out in HTS patients by Anaelechi et al [40] a nd Taneja and Mandal [41], it has been revealed that serum Zn levels was found to be increased in HTS patients as compared to normal subjects while other metals were decreased or not statistically different. They further reported that this condition seemed to increase progressively from prehypertensives to those with stage-II HT.…”

Alkaline-earth elements of scalp hair and presence of hypertension in housewives: A perspective of chronic effect

“…Roles of major minerals or trace elements in the etiology of hypertension formation have been worldwide studied (Ekmekci et al, 2003;Taneja and Mandal, 2007). Some of them act as nutrients to prevent hypertension independently or with interaction effects between them (Taneja and Mandal, 2007).…”

“…Some of them act as nutrients to prevent hypertension independently or with interaction effects between them (Taneja and Mandal, 2007). Alkaline-earth elements (AEEs), especially calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), had been suggested to involve into blood pressure regulation or hypertension formation in human body (Sacks et al, 1995;Ekmekci et al, 2003).…”

Differences in metal and metalloid content in the hair of normo- and hypertensive postmenopausal women

“…5 Imbalances of zinc, copper, magnesium and manganese affect blood pressure and are associated with hypertension. 6 Medical physiology studies have indicated correlations between the microelement content of body tissues and metabolism. 7 Trace elements have been implicated in the etiology of CVD, 8,9 with several examples showing the multi-level impact of trace elements on arterial blood pressure.…”