Serum Zinc Ion Concentration Associated with Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AIM: Coronary heart disease is a major cause of mortality in developed and developing countries. Changes in the trace element concentration in the human body are one of the main reasons for the transition of the human body from a healthy to a diseased state. In this meta-analysis, we have studied the relationship between the reduction in serum zinc ion concentration and coronary heart disease. METHODS: We used PubMed and Cochrane (as of June 30, 2021) databases for the literature search. Per the requirements of this systematic review, case-control studies involving serum zinc ion concentration and coronary heart disease were searched, and the quality of the included studies was evaluated before the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3,981 cases were found across seven articles. The standard mean deviation (SMD) of serum zinc ion concentration was −0.22 [−0.28, −0.15], z = 6.52, and P < 0.05 indicated that the difference was statistically significant. The forest plot results show that I(2) = 34% < 50%, and the Q test showed P=0.17 > 0.1. These results suggest a lack of heterogeneity among the selected articles. Results from the funnel chart indicated that this study was free from publication bias. CONCLUSION: The results of this meta-analysis reveal that a decrease in serum zinc ion concentration is related to the occurrence of coronary heart disease. Clinically, monitoring the serum zinc ion levels is proven to be of great significance for patients with coronary heart disease.