A STUDY OF SERUM ZINC LEVELS AMONG PATIENTS OF CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE CONDUCTED IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background: Zinc is an important trace element that has been increasingly implicated in coronary artery disease. The study was designed to compare serum zinc levels in patients of coronary artery disease and healthy controls. Methods: It was a prospective, case control study. A total of 125 male participants were divided into healthy controls (n = 25), Ischeamic subjects without myocardial infarction (n = 50), and Ischaemic subjects with previous or present infarction (n = 50) were included in the study. The serum zinc was analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometery. Results: The mean age in the ischaemic heart disease patients without infarction (Group – A) and with infarction was comparable to the mean age of control group. Family history of ischaemic heart disease and history of smoking were more common among disease groups as compared to controls. Serum zinc levels were found to be significantly low in study sub-group B2 (83.68 ± 5.55 8g/dl) as compared to control group (99.16 ± 5.18 8g/dl) and remaining study groups showed insignificant differences. Conclusion: Decreased serum zinc levels are associated with coronary artery disease especially the acute myocardial infarction.