Copper is the third most abundant trace mineral in the human body. It is widely distributed in nature and is estimated to be between 100 to 150 mg in human beings. It is an essential nutrient for proper functioning of body processes in all higher plants and animals. After absorption, it is primarily transported to the liver bound to albumin for absorption.
Copper is found in the muscles, liver, bone marrow, brain, kidney, heart and in hair. Copper containing enzymes are ceruloplasmin, cytochrome oxidase, cytochrome C, tyrosinase, lysyl oxidase, ALA synthase, monoamine oxidase, superoxide dismutase and phenol oxidase. Copper containing non-enzymatic proteins are hepatocoprein in liver (storage form), cuprothionine in liver, cerebrocuprein in brain, hemocuperein in red blood cells (RBCs) and erythrocuprein in bone marrow. Hemocyanin is the oxygen carrying blue pigment seen in crustacea.
Whole blood contains about 100 mcg /dl or the nutrient of which 95 per cent is found in the red blood cells (RBC) as colorless, erythrocuprein. The rest is in plasma as ceruloplasmin.
Health benefits of copper
It facilitates the normal growth and development of the body.
It is essential for iron absorption and incorporation of iron into hemoglobin.
It is necessary for tyrosinase activity.
It is a cofactor for Vitamin C requiring hydroxylations.
It helps to protect the heart by increasing the HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
It increases the uptake of iron in the body tissues.
It plays a significant role in proper nerve function.
It aids in the development of bones.
It is a cofactor for almost 50 different enzymes that require the mineral in order to function efficiently.
It plays a significant role in the production of hemoglobin, collagen and melanin.
It is an essential component of the dark pigment, melanin that determines the color of the skin, is used in dyes, hair and eyes.
Copper is a strong antioxidant. It works together with an antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD), to protect cell membranes form being destroyed by free radicals.
Copper is needed to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy the body runs on.
It helps reduce high blood pressure
It has inflammatory properties known to provide relief in arthritis
Dietary sources of copper
These include organ meats like liver, kidney etc, seafood, whole grains, oysters, nuts, beans. It can also be obtained from other sources such as drinking water flowing from copper pipes, copper cooking utensils. It is not present in adequate quantities in canned foods or those that are acidic in nature. Nutritional supplements of the mineral include copper sulfate, copper amino acid chelates and copper gluconate.
Dosage:
Infants birth to 6 months: 200 mcg
Infants 7 to 12 months: 220 mcg
Children 1 to 3 years: 340 mcg
Children 4 to 8 years: 440 mcg
Children 9 to 13 years: 700 mcg
Children 14 to 18 years: 890 mcg
19 years and older: 900 mcg
Pregnant females: 1000 mcg
Breastfeeding females: 1,300 mcg
Absorption:
Absorption of the mineral is reduced by phytate, calcium, iron, zinc and molybedenum in the intestines. It is enhanced mainly from duodenum. It is stored in the liver and bone marrow. Excretion of the mineral is mainly through bile. The urine does not contain copper in normal conditions.
Copper deficiency symptoms
The deficiency of the mineral is rare in humans but a shortage is manifested as anemia. It is also characterized by lowered levels of body temperature, irregular heartbeat, increased cholesterol, loss of pigment from the skin, thyroid disorders, RBC count is reduced, cell size is small, birth defects. If there is added iron deficiency hypochromic anemia occurs. A deficiency in the mineral can also lead to defects such as Minke’s kinky hair syndrome, a condition in which dietary copper is absorbed from GI tract but cannot be transported to blood due to the absence of an intra cellular copper binding (ATPase). Hence, copper is unavailable to the tissues resulting in defective cross linking of connective tissue. It is X linked and effects only male children.
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