Captopril & Nutrient Depletion
Also searched as Capoten, Acepril. What the clinical evidence reports, what it may mean, and what to discuss with your pharmacist.
Captopril has been associated with depletion of ZINC and COENZYME Q10. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these are worth knowing about and, if you take Captopril long-term, worth raising with your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Take more than one medication? Open the checker with Captopril pre-loaded and add the rest to see overlapping nutrient signals.
Reported nutrient depletions with Captopril
Each record below is shown as published in our licensed clinical database, with its evidence rating and citations. Expand a section for food sources and talking points.
ZINC
Insignificant DepletionCAPTOPRIL (Capoten)
Some data suggest captopril increases urinary zinc excretion, possibly due to chelation of zinc by sulfhydryl groups. Some studies have found a link between captopril, low zinc levels, and taste loss which can be reversed with zinc supplements, while others have not. Differences may be due to dose and duration of captopril therapy - increased zinc losses seem more likely with high captopril doses (greater than 150 mg/day) taken for several weeks or months. Routine zinc supplements aren't necessary with captopril. Monitor for symptoms of zinc depletion in patients on high doses of captopril for prolonged periods, especially if they have other risk factors. Significant zinc depletion doesn't occur with enalapril, and is unlikely with other ACE inhibitors.
Zinc is a mineral your body uses for immune function, wound healing, and even your sense of taste. Captopril contains a sulfhydryl group, a particular chemical structure that can bind to zinc in the body and nudge the kidneys to flush a bit more of it out in the urine. For most people on typical doses, this is unlikely to cause any real problem, and routine zinc supplements are not considered necessary. That said, if you take higher doses of captopril for months on end and notice a change in taste, it is worth mentioning to your pharmacist or doctor.
What Zinc does & food sources
Zinc supports immune function, wound healing, taste and smell, and many enzyme systems.
Common food sources:
- Meat and shellfish (especially oysters)
- Beans and lentils
- Nuts and seeds
- Whole grains
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
What to discuss with your clinician
Ask about zinc status if you take an associated medication long-term and notice slow wound healing, frequent infections, or taste changes — a clinician can decide whether testing or an empiric plan makes sense.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Supplement considerations
Zinc competes with copper for absorption — long-term, higher-dose zinc without medical guidance can cause copper deficiency. Zinc also binds some antibiotics in the gut, so dose timing matters.
Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance — supplements can interact with prescription medications.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Caution: Keep zinc doses moderate and time them away from interacting medications — ask your pharmacist.
Learn more about this nutrient: Zinc — uses, safety & interactions
References (8)
- Golik A, Zaidenstein R, Dishi V, et al. Effects of captopril and enalapril on zinc metabolism in hypertensive patients. J Am Coll Nutr 1998;17:75-8. PubMed
- Golik A, Modai D, Averbukh Z, et al. Zinc metabolism in patients treated with captopril versus enalapril. Metabolism 1990;39:665-7.
- Abu-Hamdan DK, Desai H, Sondheimer J, et al. Taste acuity and zinc metabolism in captopril-treated hypertensive male patients. Am J Hypertens 1988;1:303S-8S. PubMed
- Smit AJ, Hoorntje SJ, Donker AJ. Zinc deficiency during captopril treatment. Nephron 1983;34:196-7. DOI
- Zumkley H, Bertram HP, Vetter H, et al. Zinc metabolism during captopril treatment. Horm Metab Res 1985;17;256-8. PubMed
- Suliburska J, Skrypnik K, Szulinska M, Kupsz J, Markuszewski L, Bogdanski P. Diuretics, Ca-Antagonists, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Affect Zinc Status in Hypertensive Patients on Monotherapy: A Randomized Trial. Nutrients. 2018;10(9). PubMed
- McNeil JJ, Anderson A, Christophidis N, et al. Taste loss associated with oral captopril treatment. BMJ 1979;448:1555-6.
- O'Connor DT, Strause L, Saltman P, et al. Serum zinc is unaffected by effective captopril treatment of hypertension. J Clin Hypertens 1987;3:405-8.
COENZYME Q10
Insufficient EvidenceANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS
Some antihypertensive drugs, including beta blockers, diazoxide, hydralazine, and others, appear to inhibit coenzyme Q10 enzyme activity and may decrease endogenous levels of coenzyme Q10. However, it is not clear if this reduction is clinically significant. There is no reliable evidence that coenzyme Q10 depletion contributes to antihypertensive drug side effects.
Coenzyme Q10 is a natural compound your cells use to produce energy, and it also acts as an antioxidant throughout the body. Some blood pressure medications appear to interfere with the enzymes that make or use CoQ10, which could nudge levels down a little, though whether captopril specifically does this is not well established. The evidence here is genuinely thin, so this is not something most people on captopril need to worry about right now. Still, if you have questions or take captopril long-term, it is worth a quick conversation with your pharmacist or doctor.
What Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) does & food sources
CoQ10 helps cells produce energy and acts as an antioxidant; heart and muscle tissue use it heavily.
Common food sources:
- Organ meats and fatty fish
- Whole grains
- Nuts and seeds
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
What to discuss with your clinician
There is no routine blood test for CoQ10 in everyday practice. If you have new, unexplained muscle symptoms on a medication linked to CoQ10 (statins are the best-known example), talk to your prescriber before changing anything — symptoms have many possible causes and your prescriber has several options.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Supplement considerations
CoQ10 is generally well tolerated, but evidence for supplementing (for example, for statin muscle symptoms) is mixed. It may also modestly affect warfarin — check with your pharmacist before combining.
Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance — supplements can interact with prescription medications.
HelloPharmacist pharmacist-reviewed education — separate from the licensed record above.
Caution: Do not stop a prescribed medication because of this association — discuss any symptoms with your prescriber first.
Learn more about this nutrient: Coenzyme Q10 — uses, safety & interactions
References (1)
- Kishi T, Kishi H, Watanabe T, et al. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. XI. Studies on coenzyme Q and diabetes mellitus. J Med 1976;7:307-21.
This tool is educational and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. An association is not a diagnosis and does not mean a deficiency will occur. Always talk to your pharmacist or healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or supplement.
Disclaimer: This checker finds which nutrients might be depleted by prescription or over-the-counter medications. Each nutrient depletion issue is rated based on clinical significance. Use your own professional judgment prior to making clinical decisions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center Licensed records refresh weekly · last updated July 3, 2026.
More about Captopril
What drug-induced nutrient depletion means
Some medications can, over time, lower the levels of certain vitamins, minerals, or other nutrients — through reduced absorption, increased loss, or changes in how the body uses them.
Association is not deficiency
An entry here means a depletion has been reported or studied — not that it happens to everyone, or that you are deficient. Dose, duration, diet, and your own health all matter.
Evidence varies by pair
Some drug–nutrient links (like metformin and vitamin B12) are well studied; others rest on limited or preliminary research. Each entry shows the evidence rating from our licensed clinical database.
When to ask about labs
If you take an associated medication long-term, ask your healthcare provider whether monitoring is appropriate for you. Not everyone needs testing — your provider can weigh your dose, duration, and symptoms.
Don't self-supplement blindly
Supplements are not risk-free: some can interact with medications, and some (like potassium or magnesium) can be risky with kidney disease. Talk to your pharmacist before adding anything.
Never stop a medication over this
These medications are prescribed for good reasons, and the benefit usually far outweighs a manageable nutrient consideration. Any change belongs in a conversation with your prescriber.
Food first, usually
For many nutrients, a varied diet covers the gap. Each entry lists common food sources; a supplement is a decision to make with your pharmacist or provider, not a default.
Captopril & nutrients: FAQs
Does Captopril deplete ZINC?
Should I take a supplement because I take Captopril?
Should I stop taking Captopril?
Where does this information come from?
Questions about Captopril and your nutrition?
Ask a licensed pharmacist — free, no appointment needed.
Sources & How We Checked
Nutrient depletion records for Captopril are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database, and are displayed as published with their citations.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference for drug-induced nutrient depletions, supplements, and interactions — the basis for this page.
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine — NIH consumer drug information, used for medication overviews across the site.
Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.