Serum levels of copper, zinc and copper-to-zinc ratio in subjects with uncomplicated hypertension

Abstract

Abnormal levels of essential elements often occur in patients with hypertension due to genetic, environmental causes and drug use in the management of the disease. This study seeks to evaluate serum levels of copper, zinc and calculated Cu/Zn ratio in subjects with  hypertension who were on different types of drugs. Serum levels of copper and zinc were assayed by colorimetric method and copper/zinc ratio was calculated. Significantly higher (p<0.001) levels of serum copper and copper/zinc ratio and  significantly lower (p<0.001) level of serum zinc were observed in subjects with  essential hypertension than normotensive controls. Hypertensive subjects on diuretics drugs had significantly lower levels of serum copper (p<0.001), zinc (p<0.02) and  elevated copper/zinc ratio (p<0.01) than those on other types of drugs. The use of the copper/zinc ratio may be a better indicator than the individual elements in the  management of these patients. The need to determine the cut-off for the ratio in order to identify those at risk is suggested. The diagnosis and treatment of the imbalance in copper/zinc ratio may help to improve the health status of affected subjects.

Keywords: Essential hypertension, Serum copper, zinc and copper/zinc ratio