Background: The widespread and increasing occurrence of obesity, hypertension and associated disease has necessitated serial testing in order that risks of contracting such conditions become minimised through appropriate therapy and prevention. Many studies report that nutritional factors significantly affect the aetiology of hypertension and obesity that include mineral uptake. There are only a few studies however which are focused on the body's changing mineral content during pharmaco-therapeutic treatment.
Objectives: To determine concentrations of minerals in the hair and urine of hypertensive patients in conjunction with assessing their nutrition.
Material and methods: Subjects were 17 patients presenting with essential hypertension and 18 healthy controls. Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used to measure Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn and Cu in the hair and urine on a Zeiss AAS-3 instrument. Dietary mineral intakes were assessed by interview over 24 hours prior to the analysis.
Results: The hypertensive group had significantly lower urine concentrations of Ca and Mg as well as Mg and Zn in hair. Urinary zinc excretion was significantly increased in this group compared to controls, but dietary intakes of Cu were reduced. The dietary mineral intakes were found to be unrelated to the concentrations of such minerals in the hair and urine.
Conclusions: Compared to controls, excretion of Ca and Mg were reduced in hypertensive subjects, whereas Zn excretion was higher, and Mg and Zn were relatively low in the hair. Daily dietary intakes of Cu were also reduced in the hypertensive.