Minerals - Copper (Cu)

Question 1

Copper (Cu)

Answer 1

• As a component of several enzymes known cuproenzymes, copper (Cu) is an essential mineral for human health
• Cu is absorbed mostly in the small intestine, and to a lesser degree, the stomach (enhanced by stomach acid). It is excreted in bile.
  Cupro = relating to copper

Question 2

Food sources

Answer 2

Cu is found in both plant and animal foods (dairy is a poor source)

Key food sources / Per 100 g:
Seeds/nuts: Sesame, cashews, sunflower / 4082 mcg
Grains/legumes: Quinoa, oats, chickpeas / 820 mcg
Vegetables/fungi: Shiitake, avocado, garlic / 896 mcg
Organ meat: Calf’s liver / 4466 mcg
Shellfish: Oysters, Lobster, crab, prawns / 2679 mcg

Question 3

Functions: Antioxidant

Answer 3

Functions: Antioxidant
* Cu is a component of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase and ceruloplasmin
Therapeutic Uses:
* Free-radical protection
* Atherosclerosis

Question 4

Functions: Structural

Answer 4

Functions: Structural
* Supports the structure of skin, blood vessels and bone. Cu is a component of ‘lysyl oxidase’, an enzyme needed for cross-linking collagen and elastin
* Melanin formation
Therapeutic Uses:
* Wound healing
* Vascular health
* Osteoporosis
* Burns

Question 5

Functions: Red blood cells

Answer 5

Functions: Red blood cells
* Together with our iron, Cu is involved in haem synthesis and the formation of erythrocytes
Therapeutic Uses:
* Anaemia and Fatigue

Question 6

Functions: Immunity

Answer 6

Functions: Immunity
* It is thought that the innate immune system (especially phagocytes) use concentrations of Cu to kill bacteria
Therapeutic Uses:
* Neutropenia (low neutrophil count)
* Infections

Question 7

Functions: Nervous system

Answer 7

Functions: Nervous system
* Formation and maintenance of the myelin sheath
* Copper is a co-factor for the conversion of dopamine to noradrenaline, which is a neurotransmitter that mobilises the body for ‘fight or flight’ (i.e. increases blood pressure, releases glucose)
Therapeutic Uses:
* Neurotransmitter synthesis
* Alertness
* Focus
* Fight or flight
Redox = chemical reaction involving a transfer of electrons between two species

Question 8

Deficiency

Answer 8

• Copper deficiency is rare because many foods contain good amounts of Cu and we need very little (adults: 1.3 mg mg – 1.6 / day)
• However, deficiency may be induced by:
  o Long-term high Zinc supplementary (>50mg / day) depresses Cu absorption and restrict utilization of Cu)
  o Infants fed cow’s milk (dairy is a very poor source of copper)

Question 9

Deficiency signs and symptoms

Answer 9

The most frequent signs and symptoms of deficiency are:
* Anaemia (due to Cu role in iron metabolism)
* Bone fractures (due to Cu role in college structure)
* Impaired growth and reduced skin pigmentation
* Recurrent infections

Question 10

Toxicity

Answer 10

Acute toxicity is typically only seen from contaminated drinking water (E.g. copper pipes) or genetic disorders (Wilsons disease). Investigate water supply, supplementation or high-Cu food intake.
* Symptoms of acute Cu toxicity include:
o Vomiting
o Diarrhoea
o Liver/kidney damage
o Haemolytic anaemia
o Coma and Death

Question 11

Overload

Answer 11

Copper overload is more common, especially in women as oestrogen can cause Cu retention. Explore Zinc deficiency and gut function
* Symptoms of Cu overload include:
o Emotional instability
o ADHD
o Intolerance to OCP (oral contraceptive pill)
o Low immunity (Zn deficiency)
o Skin sensitivity to cheap metal
o Allergies
o Acne and more

Question 12

Functions

Answer 12

Antioxidant
Structural
Red blood cells
Immunity
Nervous system