[Serum zinc and copper in hypercholesterolemia].

For some authors, absolute or relative copper deficiency, with an elevated plasmatic zinc/copper ratio, could be a risk factor in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases by altering lipid metabolism. Animal or human studies carried out with zinc and/or copper supplemented or deficient diets on biochemical lipid parameters, led to inconsistent results. Nevertheless, no study was already done in hypercholesterolemic patients, concerning possible correlation between serum levels of these trace elements and cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B blood levels. 67 patients were distributed in three groups according to their hypercholesterolemia. The serum copper concentration was elevated, serum zinc concentration and zinc/copper ratio were decreased in the hypercholesterolemic group (cholesterol greater than 7.7 mmol/l). Serum zinc, copper and zinc/copper ratio were significantly correlated with HDL cholesterol (respectively r = + 0.56 p less than 0.05, r = - 0.68 p less than 0.01, r = + 0.76 p less than 0.001).