Workers in cadmium smelters had more than double the risk of controls. 2 Administration of zinc beneficially depletes excess stores of iron and cadmium in people resulting in the reduced incident of angina pectoris and ischemia. Zinc is well known to compete with iron for gut absorption sites and blood transport proteins. Zinc also prevents arterial scarring from viral infections of the arteries. Cadmium is directly below zinc on the periodic table of elements.
Zinc ion is also strongly anti inflammatory.
Personal communication, 1992. Epidemiologic evaluation of the coronary risk in physical workers on nonferrous metalworks. Coronary heart disease. Przegl Lek .