Losartan and Zinc, a caution.
A systematic review of antihypertensive therapy and zinc identified increased urinary zinc loss in losartan-treated patients. The effect is smaller than with sulfhydryl-containing ACE inhibitors but is consistent across studies of ARB therapy. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include altered taste, slow wound healing, hair loss, and reduced immune function.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
From the interaction database
What the row says.
Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
At a glance
- Pair type
- Caution
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Emerging
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Caution · Emerging evidence
Caution
What is happening. A systematic review of antihypertensive therapy and zinc identified increased urinary zinc loss in losartan-treated patients. The effect is smaller than with sulfhydryl-containing ACE inhibitors but is consistent across studies of ARB therapy. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include altered taste, slow wound healing, hair loss, and reduced immune function.
Mechanism. AT1 receptor blockade alters renal handling of trace minerals including zinc, contributing to increased urinary zinc excretion. Chronic loss can deplete intracellular zinc pools even when serum looks normal.
Recommendation. If you take losartan long term, a modest zinc supplement (15-30 mg/day) or a multivitamin containing zinc is reasonable, especially if you notice altered taste or recurrent infections. Take zinc with food to limit GI upset.
Sources (2)
- Braun LA, Rosenfeldt F. Pharmaco-nutrient interactions - a systematic review of zinc and antihypertensive therapy. Int J Clin Pract. 2013;67(8):717-25. PMID 23279674
- Golik A, Zaidenstein R, Dishi V, Blatt A, Cohen N, Cotter G, Berman S, Weissgarten J. Effects of captopril and enalapril on zinc metabolism in hypertensive patients. J Am Coll Nutr. 1998;17(1):75-8. PMID 9477394
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Losartan and Zinc are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored caution row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
Check your full routine
One pair was the worked example. NutriStack runs every pair in your stack at once.
Drop in your supplements and prescriptions and the public database surfaces every interaction, synergy, timing rule, and contraindication, every one linked to its primary source.