Who needs copper?

A lack of copper, as well as an excess, can affect the functioning of the body. There are acquired and congenital deficiencies. The latter occurs due to a genetic abnormality called Menkes syndrome and occurs in newborn boys.

Acquired copper deficiency can occur for the following reasons:

• an unbalanced diet depleted of useful microelements;
• the presence of diseases that affect the absorption of nutrients;
• increased copper consumption, which occurs due to stress, diarrhea, skin burns, gastrointestinal operations;
• Excessive intake of zinc (both from food and medications).

1. feeling of chronic fatigue. Copper helps absorb iron from the intestines. If there is little of it, then less iron will be absorbed. Against this background, iron deficiency anemia may develop. Because of it, weakness and constant fatigue arise.
2. an increase in the number of colds and other diseases. With copper deficiency, the body begins to fight for the production of immune cells, as a result, a decrease in the number of white blood cells occurs, and this leads to the inability to protect the body from the influence of infections.
3. Impaired memory and learning ability Copper is important for brain function and development. Its deficiency leads to diseases that disrupt brain activity and impair learning and memory processes.
4. brittle bones and problems with movement Due to a lack of copper, problems arise in the functioning of enzymes, the process of transmitting signals between the brain and the body is hampered, and instability of the entire body occurs and loss of coordination.
5. Impaired pigmentation of skin and hair Possible early appearance of gray hair and a decrease in the amount of melatonin due to copper deficiency.
6. deterioration in the functioning of the visual organs. It occurs as a result of copper deficiency in the body over a fairly long period of time and occurs in people who have undergone operations on the gastrointestinal tract.
7. increased sensitivity to lower temperatures. This occurs due to problems with the thyroid gland, the normal functioning of which is precisely what copper in combination with zinc should support.

How to compensate for copper deficiency

However, copper deficiency does not occur often and to avoid it it is enough to include copper-containing food sources in your daily diet. These include: beef liver (ranked first in copper content). Then comes seafood (clams, crabs, shrimp). Then come seeds, nuts, mushrooms and chocolate, but by a significant margin. You also need to eat cereals, dried fruits, bananas, and beans.

You can also take medications containing copper, but only after consulting a doctor.

• excessive alcohol consumption;
• taking iron – you should take breaks in the course of treatment;
• a large amount of fruit sugar in the diet – fruit and juice should be consumed separately after the main dishes.

Other helpful articles

Most of us are very wary of modern medicine, because many have the opinion that most doctors working in our country do not have enough knowledge to make correct diagnoses and cure people from various diseases.

New rules for passing a driver’s medical examination

Some adjustments have been made to the rules for passing driver’s medical examinations in accordance with Federal Law No. 437 of December 28, 2013, which introduced amendments and clarifications to the Law “On Road Safety”, which will come into force on March 30, 2014.

Sanatorium map and creation of an effective treatment method

Sanatorium-resort treatment is a unique set of medical measures that will improve your health.

How to prepare for a coronavirus test

Recently, the question of the presence of antibodies to coronavirus has been very relevant for the population. And also many people who suffer from colds want to know their diagnosis – is it ARI, ARVI, or COVID-19. And to answer each of these questions you need to take different tests.

How to reduce the likelihood of your child getting injured

A child should definitely play sports, since his development will directly depend on physical activity and activity.

Copper is an important trace element for humans, participating in metabolic processes, hemoglobin synthesis, the functioning of the central nervous system, the formation of bone structures, maintaining the immune response, and normalizing circadian rhythms.

The role of copper in the occurrence and course of various diseases

Due to the wide distribution of copper in food products, nutritional deficiency in adults practically does not occur, with the exception of cases of deficiency in patients who were on parenteral nutrition and receiving mixtures with low copper content. At the same time, malabsorption syndrome, nephrotic syndrome, protein-energy deficiency are accompanied by some clinical symptoms (anemia, neutropenia, neurological disorders, etc.) and a decrease in the level of copper in the blood, indicating a deficiency of this element in such patients.

Clinical manifestations of insufficient copper consumption are manifested by disturbances in the formation of the cardiovascular system and skeletal bones, and the development of connective tissue dysplasia.

Why is copper needed in the body? Beneficial features:

♦ Reducing inflammation. Prescribe topical medications to treat arthritis.
♦ Participation in redox reactions. Prevention of early aging due to the work of the enzyme superoxide dismutase, which protects tissues from free radicals. They damage cells, causing their premature death.
♦ Brain activity. Promotes thought processes, memorization of new information, logical thinking, isolating the main thing from sentences and what was said, non-standard and creative solutions.
♦ Stimulation of the immune response. Inhibits the development of infectious diseases. The toxic effect of the metal on Escherichia coli (E. coli), which, when reactivity decreases, causes diarrhea, pyelonephritis, pneumonia, and sepsis, has been established.
♦ Component of melanin. The pineal gland hormone is responsible for the production of serotonin (affects a person’s emotional status), normalization of circadian rhythms, coloring of the skin and iris (prevents burns from ultraviolet radiation). It is produced under the influence of sunlight on the retina of the eye. According to research, people who prefer to sleep during the day are more likely to develop malignant tumors.
♦ Co-factor of about 50 enzymatic systems that provide metabolism in the body, blood clotting, the production of a protective sheath of nerve cells and pathways, and the building of bones.
♦ Promotes absorption in the intestinal lumen and delivery of iron to the depot. It is responsible for the synthesis of hemoglobin, which is involved in respiration processes and the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells.
♦ Utilizes glucose.
♦ Synthesis of collagen and elastin. They give elasticity to the epidermis. Prevention of early appearance of wrinkles.
♦ Energy function. The element is involved in the production of adenosine triphosphate, a substance that represents an energy reserve in the body.
♦ Normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland. Insufficient copper intake leads to a deficiency or excess of hormones – hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.

A connection has been found between the substance and the level of cholesterol in the blood plasma: it reduces the concentration of LDL and increases HDL. This reduces the risk of cardiovascular pathologies, myocardial and cerebral infarction, obliterating and generalized atherosclerosis.

Symptoms and causes of copper deficiency. Clinical picture of the disease:

♦ sleep disturbance, insomnia;
♦ hair loss and depigmentation, early gray hair;
♦ tendency to inflammatory and infectious processes;
♦ change in mental status (increased irritability, emotional lability, depression);
♦ spontaneous bleeding, hemorrhages on the skin;
♦ obesity;
♦ low body temperature due to a decrease in metabolic processes in the body;
♦ osteoporosis (pathological and frequent fractures, softening of bone structures);
♦ changes in heart rhythm (tachy- and bradycardia, extrasystoles);
♦ white mucous membranes and skin;
♦ dilated arteries and veins;
♦ myocardial ischemia (pain behind the sternum and in the heart area);
♦ anemia (decrease in the number of red blood cells and hemoglobin);
♦ leukopenia;
♦ increased extensibility of the skin and muscles, excessive joint mobility, prolonged wound healing (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome).

Provoking factors are insufficient supply of the element with food (diet, poverty), impaired absorption in the intestinal lumen, genetic pathology, excess zinc and vitamin C.

Symptoms and causes of excess copper. Clinical picture of Wilson-Konovalov disease:

♦ Damage to the central nervous system. Extrapyramidal disorders (muscle rigidity, hyperkinesis, tremors of the limbs), sensitivity is not impaired.
♦ Kayser-Fleischer rings. Characteristic deposits of the element on the cornea in the form of a greenish or brown pigment. Pathognomic symptom.
♦ Hemorrhagic syndrome. Increased bleeding of the gums and nose.
♦ Liver damage. Hepatosis, cirrhosis. Manifested by yellowness of the skin and mucous membranes, pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea, vomiting, enlarged veins on the anterior abdominal wall, portal hypertension. There is a high risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and malignancy (degeneration into cancer).
♦ Profuse sweating, pathological fragility of bones, limited joint mobility, muscle pain, blue discoloration of nail plates.
♦ Decrease in the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, platelets, leukocytes.
♦ Change in mental status. Manic-depressive syndrome, schizophrenia, lack of emotions.
♦ Tendency to inflammatory and infectious diseases.
♦ Excessive intake of copper into the body may be due to work in hazardous enterprises. Patients experience damage to the respiratory tract, mucous membranes, eyes, skin, fever, and pneumosclerosis.
♦ Chronic intake of the element is accompanied by headaches, dizziness, metallic taste in the mouth, and dyspeptic symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

Provoking factors: hereditary deficiency of enzyme systems and the ceruloplasmin carrier protein, taking medications (hormonal therapy, contraceptives, vitamin supplements), consuming foods and water rich in metal.

Daily copper requirement

Average consumption is 0,9-2.3 mg/day. Established requirement levels are 0,9-3,0 mg/day. The upper permissible intake level is 5 mg/day.

The physiological need for adults is 1,0 mg/day.

The physiological need for children is from 0,5 to 1,0 mg/day.

(According to the methodological recommendations “Norms of physiological needs for energy and nutrients for various groups of the population of the Russian Federation”, MP 2.3.1.2432-21)

Traditional food sources of copper

Copper content is highest in liver, meat, seafood, nuts, grains, cocoa, bran

The copper content in milk and dairy products is very low. Long-term consumption of dairy diet can lead to copper deficiency in the body.

Physiological role of copper in the body

The biological role of copper is associated with its inclusion in the structure of a number of enzymes and proteins: to date, more than 20 of them are known. Copper is part of cytochrome oxidase, the terminal link of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain, which plays an important role in the regulation of the processes of biological oxidation and oxidative phosphorylation; monoamine oxidase, which catalyzes the oxidative deamination of catecholamines, serotonin, etc.; lysyl oxidase, which is involved in the formation of cross-links in collagen and elastin molecules. The trace element is a component of tyrosinase, which catalyzes the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into dopamine, and then into melanins (substances responsible for skin pigmentation). Copper is also found in superoxide dismutase, which protects cells from the toxic effects of superoxide radicals. A number of important enzymatic functions are inherent in the mentioned copper-containing protein ceruloplasmin. It catalyzes the oxidation of catecholamines, serotonin and other aromatic amines, and participates in the oxidation of ferrous iron into ferric iron. It is in this state that iron is able to bind to transferrin and then be transported by the blood to organs and tissues. Thus, the physiological role of copper is due to its participation in the regulation of the processes of biological oxidation and ATP generation, the synthesis of the most important connective tissue proteins collagen and elastin, iron metabolism, the protection of cells from the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species, etc.

Internet project “ABC of Vitamins”