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Complementary and Alternative Medicine - Cam

Search Health Information    Lisinopril

Topic Contents


Drug Information

Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a family of drugs used to treat high blood pressure and some types of heart failure. Lisinopril is also used in some cases to improve survival after a heart attack .

Common brand names:

Prinivil, Zestril

Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, & Foods

Types of interactions: Beneficial Adverse Check

Replenish Depleted Nutrients

  • Zinc

    In a study of 34 people with hypertension , six months of captopril or enalapril (ACE inhibitors related to lisinopril) treatment led to decreased zinc levels in certain white blood cells,1 raising concerns about possible ACE inhibitor–induced zinc depletion.

    While zinc depletion has not been reported with lisinopril, until more is known, it makes sense for people taking lisinopril long term to consider, as a precaution, taking a zinc supplement or a multimineral tablet containing zinc. (Such multiminerals usually contain no more than 99 mg of potassium, probably not enough to trigger the above-mentioned interaction.) Supplements containing zinc should also contain copper , to protect against a zinc-induced copper deficiency.


Reduce Side Effects

  • Iron


Support Medicine

  • none

Reduces Effectiveness

  • none

Potential Negative Interaction

  • none

Explanation Required 

  • Potassium

    An uncommon yet potentially serious side effect of taking ACE inhibitors is increased blood potassium levels.3 , 4 , 5 This problem is more likely to occur in people with advanced kidney disease. Taking potassium supplements,6 potassium-containing salt substitutes (No Salt®, Morton Salt Substitute®, and others),7 , 8 , 9 or large amounts of high-potassium foods (including noni juice) at the same time as ACE inhibitors could cause life-threatening problems.10 Therefore, people should consult their healthcare practitioner before supplementing additional potassium and should have their blood levels of potassium checked periodically while taking ACE inhibitors.







5. Sifton DW, ed. Physicians’ Desk Reference. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 2000, 1965–8.


7. Burnakis TG. Captopril and increased serum potassium levels. JAMA 1984;252:1682–3 [letter].



10. Stoltz ML. Severe hyperkalemia during very-low-calorie diets and angiotensin converting enzyme use. JAMA 1990;264:2737–8 [letter].


