SERUM-CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, COPPER AND ZINC AND RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEATH

Objective: To study the association of serum calcium, magnesium, coppe r and zinc concentrations with cardiovascular mortality. Design: A nes ted case-control study within a prospective population study. Subjects and methods: 230 men dying from cardiovascular diseases and 298 contr ols matched for age, place of residence, smoking and follow-up time. M ean follow-up time was 10 years. Serum calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc concentrations were determined from samples kept frozen at -20 de grees C. Results: High serum copper and low serum zinc concentrations were significantly associated with an increased mortality from all car diovascular diseases and from coronary heart disease in particular. Th e relative risk of coronary heart disease mortality between the highes t and lowest tertiles of serum copper and zinc were 2.86 (P = 0.03) an d 0.69 (P = 0.04), respectively. Adjustment for social class, serum ch olesterol, body mass index, hypertension and known heart disease at ba seline examination did not materially alter the results. No significan t differences were observed in concentrations of serum calcium and mag nesium between cases and controls. Conclusions: High serum copper and low serum zinc are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality whereas no association was found with serum calcium and magnesium and mortality risk.