A new study by the American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology states that High blood pressure or hypertension has been linked to zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency is common in individuals with chronic kidney diseases and Type 2 diabetes and in those patients, there is an increased likelihood of hypertension.The findings revealed, “Zinc deficiency (ZnD) is a common co morbidity of many chronic diseases. In these settings, ZnD exacerbates hypertension.” Blood pressure control depends on how kidneys excrete sodium into the urine or reabsorb it into the body through the sodium chloride co transporter (NCC). Less sodium in the urine is related to increased blood pressure levels.
The study concluded,
1) Zn2+ (zinc) contributes to BP regulation via modulating renal Na+ handling,
2) renal NCC mediates ZnD-induced hypertension and
3) NCC is a Zn2+ regulated transporter that is upregulated with ZnD. This study links dysregulated renal Na+ handling to ZnD-induced hypertension.
Furthermore, NCC is identified as a novel mechanism by which Zn2+ regulates BP. Understanding the mechanisms of ZnD-induced BP dysregulation may have important therapeutic impact on hypertension.
