title: Suboptimal dietary zinc intake promotes vascular inflammation and atherogenesis in a mouse model of atherosclerosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Cardiovascular health is strongly influenced by diet. Zinc has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties but its long-term influence on vascular health at dietary intake levels relevant to the human population in developed countries has not been studied. We investigated the influence of suboptimal zinc intake in a Western-type diet on the development of vascular inflammation and arterial plaque in apoE knock-out (AEKO) mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Weanling AEKO and wild-type (WT) controls were given high saturated fat (21% w/w) and high cholesterol (0.15%) semi-synthetic diets containing 3 or 35 mg Zn/kg (AEKO and WT) or 8 mg Zn/kg (AEKO only) for over 6 months. AEKO mice on zinc intakes of 3 and 8 mg Zn/kg (suboptimal zinc) developed significantly (p < 0.05) more aortic plaque than AEKO mice consuming 35 mg Zn/kg (adequate zinc). Circulating levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1 were significantly (p < 0.05) raised at the lowest zinc intake in AEKO mice, as compared to zinc-adequate controls. Plasma total cholesterol and total protein were also significantly (p < 0.05) increased at the lowest zinc intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that suboptimal dietary zinc intake raises circulating pro-atherogenic lipoprotein levels that promote vascular inflammation and enhance arterial plaque formation.
authors: Division of Lifelong Health, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK. J.Beattie@abdn.ac.uk
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Beattie
authors: Margaret-Jane
authors: MJ
authors: Gordon
authors: Susan J
authors: SJ
authors: Duthie
authors: Chris J
authors: CJ
authors: McNeil
authors: Graham W
authors: GW
authors: Horgan
authors: Graeme F
authors: GF
authors: Nixon
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Feldmann
authors: In-Sook
authors: IS
authors: Kwun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D020297:Mice, Congenic; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D007378:Interleukins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D015032:Zinc