Zinc Deficiency in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathies are group of heart diseases that influence cardiac muscles directly and are not related to hypertension, congenital, valvular and pericardial diseases. The most common type of cardiomyopathy is dilate cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy usually manifests as chronic systolic heart failure leading to arrhythmias and sudden death. Trace elements are known to have a key role in myocardial metabolism. The human heart requires energy from micro and macro nutrients both to regenerate proteins and cells, and to support cyclic contractions. Heart failure is associated with neuro-hormonal activation leading to elevated levels of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress. Zinc is an essential micronutrient that impacts the cardiovascular system. There are multiple potential pathophysiologic causes for zinc deficiency in heart failure as result of impaired micronutrient consumption, hyper inflammatory state, diminished absorption and hyperzincuria from heart failure medications. Zinc deficiency may play a role as primary and possible reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Plasma zinc levels have been reported in multiple observational studies of patients with heart failure particularly in studies of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, serum zinc levels have been found to be low. A small but growing body of evidence suggesting the role for oral zinc supplementation in the management of dilated cardiomyopathy however further evaluation of the impact on outcome is needed.