Nutritional information – Copper

Copper – is it important for our bodies?

I am always interested, when I look at somebody’s hair mineral analysis, to see what their copper levels are like.  Tissue copper levels can tell us much about what is going on (or not going on!) in your body.

Have you ever wondered why people suffering with stiff joints often wear copper bracelets?  Did you know that copper is needed in order to absorb iron and a deficiency can cause iron-deficient anaemia?  Did you know that our bodies need copper to make enzymes and energy?  So, as you can see, copper is a vital mineral for our bodies.  But can we have too much copper stored in our tissues and what is the consequence of that?  We will be looking at the answers to these questions as well as many more things.

Enzymes in our bodies

Copper is needed to make enzymes for energy, connective tissue formation, and the brain and nervous system (Linder, Hazegh-Azam).

Anaemia

Copper is needed to make the enzymes which enable your blood cells to utilise your iron.  Iron is needed by red blood cells to carry oxygen around your body. If you have a copper deficiency, you may not be able to utilise your iron successfully leaving you feeling tired and fatigued (Linder, Hazegh-Azam).

Arthritis

Iron can be deposited in your joints leading to rheumatoid arthritis (Lawson et al).  Hair mineral analysis results have shown that people diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have low tissue copper and high iron tissue levels.  On the other hand, too much copper may cause calcium to accumulate around your joints leading to osteoarthritis (aching and stiffness) (Uauy et al).

Recurrent infections

Bacteria needs iron in order to proliferate and copper to combat an infection.  Copper deficiency may lead to a bacterial infection (Failla & Hopkins) and excess copper may lead to a viral infection.  We can see how important it is to have the right balance of copper in our bodies.

Neurological disorders

Studies have shown patients with neurological problems often have severe copper deficiencies (Uauy et al).

Cardiovascular disorders

Copper is needed to make the enzymes to maintain the connective tissue around the heart.  When copper is too high and zinc too low, cholesterol may increase (Leone N et al).

Female hormones

Oestrogen moves in tandem with copper (Deeming & Weber), and progesterone with zinc.  Therefore, women who are taking the pill often have elevated copper levels because they have elevated oestrogen levels.  An imbalance in female hormones may lead to PMS symptoms.

Yeast infections (Candida)

Excess copper in your tissues encourages yeast to proliferate.

Scoliosis (curvature of the spin)

Copper is needed for the enzymes which produce muscular tissue.  Excess copper may cause ligaments to relax leading to scoliosis (Pratt and Phippen).

Mental health

Studies have shown that excess copper and low zinc in the tissues can be associated with mood swings and learning difficulties.

I was interested to learn that a copper deficiency has a similar impact on your body as a vitamin C deficiency.  A lack of copper may mimic scurvy, cause bleeding gums and bruising just like a lack of vitamin C.

It is vital to check nutrient levels, possibly using a hair mineral analysis, before any supplementation.  Taking vitamin C in huge doses may cause an imbalance in copper therefore it is important to check levels before supplementation (Finley et al).

References

Deeming SB, Weber CW (1978) Hair analysis of trace minerals in human subjects as influenced by age, sex and contraceptive drugs.  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 31:1175-1180 [Online] http://www.canaltlabs.com/pictures/site131/content6793/media/Hair_analysis_subjects_as_influences_by_age,_sex,and_contraceptive_drugs.pdf.

Failla ML, Hopkins RG (1998) Is low copper status immunosuppressive?  Nutritional Reviews, 56(1): 59-64 [Online – abstract only] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1753-4887.1998.tb01646.x/abstract.

Finley EB, Cerklewski FL (1983) Influence of ascorbic acid supplementation on copper status in young adult men, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 37(4): 553-6 [Online] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/37/4/553.full.pdf+html.

Lawson AA et al (1967) Natural of anaemia in rheumatoid arthritis.  VII.  Storage of iron in rheumatoid disease.  Annals of the rheumatic diseases, 26(6):552-559 [Online] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1010442/pdf/annrheumd00227-0087.pdf.

Leone N et al  (2006) Zinc, copper, and magnesium and risks for all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular mortality.  Epidemiology, 17(3): 308-14 [Online – abstract only]  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16570028.

Linder MC, Hazegh-Azam M (1996) Copper biochemistry and molecular biology, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63(5): 797S-811S [Online] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/63/5/797S.2.full.pdf+html.

Murray MT (2001) Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements.  New York, Three Rivers Press.

Pratt WB, Phippen WG (1976) Eleveated hair copper level in idiopathic scoliosis: preliminary observations, Spine, 5(3): 230-3 [Online] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7394662.

Percival SS (1998) Copper and immunity.  The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67(5 suppl): 1064S-1068S [Online] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/67/5/1064S.full.pdf.

Uauy R et al (1998) Essentiality of copper in humans, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 67(5 suppl): 952S-959S [Online] http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/67/5/952S.full.pdf.

Watts DL (1989) The nutritional relationships of copper, Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, 34: 99-108 [Online] http://traceelements.com/Docs/The%20Nutritional%20Relationships%20of%20Copper.pdf.

Watts DL (1995) Trace Elements and Other Essential Nutrients. Texas, Trace Elements