Cardiology and Angiology: An International Journal

Aims: This study tends to investigate the effect of thiazide diuretic as an antihypertensive agent on some physiological micro nutrients and vitamins.

Study Design: One factor quasi-experimental design.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado- Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. December, 2014-November, 2015.

Methodology: Selected micro nutrients such as Cu²⁺ (copper ion), Fe²⁺ (iron ion), Ca²⁺ (Calcium ion), Zn²⁺ (Zinc ion), Co (Cobalt ion), Mn²⁺ (Manganese), Se (Selenium ion), Mg⁺(Magnesium ion) and vitamins such as Vit C (Vitamin C), Vit E (Vitamin E), Vit A (Vitamin A) were analyzed in blood samples of normotensive, uncontrolled  hypertensive subjects and controlled hypertensive subjects under thiazide diuretic administration using standard methods.

Results: There were significant decreases (p=.0001) in all blood concentration of selected blood micro nutrients of uncontrolled and control hypertensive subjects under thiazide diuretic when compared with normotensive subjects with the exception of Fe²⁺ in both uncontrolled and controlled hypertensive subjects under thiazide diuretic which was found to be significantly increased when compared with normotensive subjects while similar picture was observed for Ca²⁺ but only in controlled hypertensive subjects in both male and female group (P=0.0001). Comparing blood vitamin profile of untreated hypertensive subjects and hypertensive subjects under thiazide diuretic therapy with normotensive showed significant decreases in blood vitamins in both condition irrespective of sex (P=.0001).

Conclusion: The above findings suggest that thiazide diuretic may further deplete the already depleted micronutrients and vitamins in hypertensive subjects. Also, iron and calcium rich diet or supplement may be moderately consumed due to its implication in the pathophysiology of hypertension and should be monitored when administering thiazide diuretic while consumption of micronutrients and vitamins rich diet or supplement may be encourage when administering thiazide diuretic antihypertensive agent to augment  for depleted micronutrients and vitamins.