Fast Oxidation and Hypertension

Hypertension, or high blood pressure has been called a “silent killer” effecting over 1 billion people in the world. The reason why it is so silent is that you cannot “feel” high blood pressure. When symptoms do occur, they manifest as early morning headaches, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes, and buzzing in the ears. While severe hypertension can cause fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, anxiety, chest pain, and muscle tremors (WHO, 2019).

More than half of the people with hypertension (high blood pressure) are “salt-sensitive” (Preuss, 1997). This infers that a large percentage, perhaps about 40% of people with high blood pressure are not salt sensitive, and that other factors may be playing a role.

In this article we will cover some of the interesting connections between what we see on a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) and Mineral Balancing Science.

An HTMA of a Fast Oxidiser diagnosed with hypertension.

A Note on Oxidation Types

Fast oxidisers are classified on an unwashed HTMA as having low calcium and magnesium levels in relation to sodium and potassium levels. Fast oxidisers typically have excessive adrenal gland activity and very often hypertension.

In the fast oxidiser, increased salt consumption negatively affects them since they have enhanced adrenal gland function and will readily absorb it due to their enhanced adrenal hormone activity. They also typically have a high sodium to magnesium (Na/Mg) ratio. The more salt that they eat, they increase their magnesium requirements.

To read more about oxidation rates, please read: Metabolic Typing: The Science of Oxidation Rates

Mineral Balancing and Hypertension

By understanding the impact of specific nutrients and their interrelationships, Mineral Balancing provides some interesting insight into hypertension. Have no fear, nutrients are here!

• Magnesium can also be used to lower sodium levels on an HTMA and thus reduce adrenal gland activity. Increasing magnesium consumption has been shown to be beneficial for individuals with hypertension (Zhang X, 2016; Laurant P, 1995).

• Calcium has been noted as being effective for reducing hypertension (Oliván Martínez J, 1989; Lasaridis AN, 1989; Aalberts JS, 1988; Strazzullo P, 1986; Sowers MR, 1985). Thus this may be especially true when a person is in need of calcium such as the fast oxidiser. Interestingly, calcium lowers potassium levels on an HTMA and this reduces adrenal gland activity and also bring sodium levels down with it. If calcium supplements are used in the slow oxidiser, care should be taken as this can make their mineral balance worse.

Some herbs have also been noted to be beneficial for hypertension. Since sodium and potassium levels play an important role on a hair test with hypertension, supporting the kidneys can also help. This is because sodium and potassium are regulated by the kidneys. We have found that garlic and Renamide are also helpful for those with hypertension.

Zinc, Hypertension and Copper

Due to the low calcium and magnesium levels of the fast oxidiser, zinc has a unique ability of raising calcium and lowering potassium levels by enhancing parasympathetic activity. However, it is not as simple as just taking zinc. The reason is that zinc antagonises copper, another element which raises calcium on a hair tissue mineral analysis. Most fast oxidisers need more copper, and if a person were to just take zinc by itself, they could make their hypertension and mineral levels worse.

Zinc deficiency can effect a persons taste buds in such a way that they eat more salt because the person is not sensitive to the taste of it (So Mi Kim). The excessive salt consumption may be misinterpreted as a craving that the body needs more, when really it is a sign of zinc deficiency.

Another method in which a zinc deficiency can impact blood pressure is through the Zn/Cu ratio of an individual. It has been found that a high zinc to copper ratio can indicate ischemic heart disease and that there is a relative deficiency of copper (Klevay).

Conclusion

It is very common for high blood pressure to be present in individuals with high sodium and potassium levels in relation to calcium and magnesium levels on a hair tissue mineral analysis. Metabolic typing, and assessing an individuals tissue status of elements may play an important role in understanding the cause and resolution to hypertension by providing information on which nutrients are required to support and promote healthy cardiovascular function. Mineral Balancing may be a natural and effective way for reducing high blood pressure by lowering sodium and potassium levels through nutritional intervention.

Sources

1. Agnoli GC, B. R. (1998, MArch). Effects of experimental salt depletion on urinary prostanoid excretions in normal women. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 58(3), 237-242. doi:10.1016/s0952-3278(98)90120-x

2. World Health Organization. (2019, September 19). Hypertension. Retrieved from World Health Organization International: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension.

3. Preuss, H. (1997). Diet, genetics and hypertension. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 16(4), 296-305. doi: 10.1080/07315724.1997.10718690.

4. Oliván Martínez J, P. C. (1989). [Effect of an oral calcium supplement in the treatment of slight-to- moderate essential arterial hypertension]. Anales de medicina inerna (Madris, Spain : 1984), 6(4), 192-196. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2491521.

5. Lasaridis AN, K. C. (1989). Increased natriuretic ability and hypotensive effect during short-term high calcium intake in essential hypertension. Nephron., 51(4), 517-23. doi:10.1159/000185386.

6. Aalberts JS, W. P. (1988, July). Calcium supplementation: effect on blood pressure and urinary mineral excretion in normotensive male lactoovovegetarians and omnivores. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 48(1), 131-8. doi:10.1093/ajcn/48.1.131.

7. Strazzullo P, S. A. (1986, November). Controlled trial of long-term oral calcium supplementation in essential hypertension. Hypertension, 8(11), 1084-8. doi:10.1161/01.hyp.8.11.1084.

8. Sowers MR, W. R. (1985). The association of intakes of vitamin D and calcium with blood pressure among women. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 42(1), 135-42. doi:10.1093/ajcn/42.1.135.

9. Zhang X, L. Y. (2016). Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trials. Hypertension, 68(2), 324-33. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07664.

10. Laurant P, K. J. (1995). Dietary magnesium supplementation modifies blood pressure and cardiovascular function in mineralocorticoid-salt hypertensive rats but not in normotensive rats. Journal of Nutrition, 125(4), 124. doi:0.1093/jn/125.4.830

11. So Mi Kim et al. (2016). The effect of zinc deficiency on salt taste acuity, preference, and dietary sodium intake in hemodialysis patients. Hemodial Int, 20(3):441-6. doi: 10.1111/hdi.12388. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26833639/

12. Klevay, L.M. (1980), INTERACTIONS OF COPPER AND ZINC IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 355: 140-151. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb21334.x