Zinc ingestion and lipoprotein values in sedentary and endurance-trained men
S. F. Crouse, P. L. Hooper, H. A. Atterbom and R. L. Papenfuss
The finding that high doses (160 mg) of zinc lowered high-density
lipoprotein-cholesterol prompted us to study the effect of low-dose zinc
supplementation on lipoprotein values in sedentary and endurance-trained
men. Twenty-one endurance-trained and 23 sedentary men received either
placebo or 50 mg of zinc sulfate daily for eight weeks. Despite the fact
that plasma zinc increased 15%, fasting plasma high-density-lipoprotein
cholesterol, total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol, and
triglyceride levels did not change in response to zinc ingestion. We
conclude that low-dose zinc supplementation does not affect lipid or
lipoprotein values in either endurance-trained or sedentary men.
