Scientists unexpectedly discovered that zinc may provide a new treatment for hypertension.

It is well known that metals such as potassium and calcium can control blood pressure, but research results show that zinc can relax blood vessel walls.

The research results were recently published in Nature Communications.

"Basic discoveries over 60 years ago have established that the calcium and potassium levels in perivascular muscles control how they expand and contract," lead author Dr. Ashenafi Betrie and senior author Dr. Scott Ayton. D. and Flory University of Melbourne, Australia Dr. Christine Wright of the Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health said in a press release.

According to data from the American Heart Association, an estimated 103 million American adults suffer from high blood pressure, almost half of the adult population. As the elderly population increases, this number is expected to rise.

The American Heart Association says that potassium-rich foods, such as apricots, potatoes, spinach, and tuna, play an important role in controlling high blood pressure because they can reduce the effects of sodium. It helps to release more sodium through the urine and relieve the tension of the blood vessel wall.

At the same time, Harvard Health Press stated that calcium helps to help blood vessels constrict and relax when needed. This is important for healthy blood pressure. Green leafy vegetables, cheese and canned salmon are calcium-rich foods.

However, the zinc found in lobsters, crabs, broccoli, mushrooms, pumpkin seeds and pine nuts has also been found to control blood pressure.

"We accidentally discovered that zinc is also important because we have been studying the brain, not blood pressure," Betrie said. "While we were studying the effects of zinc-based drugs on brain function in Alzheimer's disease, we noticed a significant and unexpected drop in blood pressure in mouse models treated with these drugs."

Researchers have found that the synchronized behavior of zinc in sensory nerves, endothelial cells (cells that form the barrier between blood vessels and tissues), and arterial muscles leads to a decrease in calcium levels in blood vessels. The blood vessels relax, blood pressure decreases, and blood flow increases. Researchers have found that blood vessels in the brain and heart are more sensitive to zinc than other blood vessels in the body.

"In essence, zinc has the opposite effect of calcium to blood flow and pressure," Ayton said. "Zinc is an important metal ion in biology. Given that calcium and potassium are known for controlling blood flow and pressure, it is surprising that the role of zinc has not been taken seriously before."

This new study also explains why zinc is related to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension is also a side effect of zinc deficiency. This new research provides an explanation for these previously known associations.

More research is needed on these findings, but Wright said, "The new zinc-based antihypertensive drug will be a huge result for unexpected discoveries."

Kiersten Willis was born in Georgia and is a local expert on the income content team of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper. She is responsible for helping fulfill the sponsorship, and also responsible for advertising content and managing the aging of the Atlanta special printing section. She graduated from the University of Georgia.