Copper Health Article

Factors that increase copper concentrations

Certain disorders have been known to increase copper levels. Persons with these conditions should not take copper supplements as they may cause copper toxicity.

• recent heart attacks
• lupus erythematosus
• cirrhosis of the liver
• schizophrenia
• leukemia and some other forms of cancer
• viral infections
• ulcerative colitis (This inflammatory bowel disease may cause accumulation of copper in the body. Excessive amount of copper may worsen many symptoms of this disease by increasing susceptibility to infections and inhibiting wound healing.)
• Wilson's disease (This disease causes accumulation of copper in the tissues. As a result, patients have liver disease, mental retardation, tremor and poor muscle coordination. They also have copper deposits in the cornea of the eye. To manage this disease, patients are put on a low-copper diet and given penicillamine, a drug that attaches itself to copper and increases its excretion.)

BOOKS

Lieberman,, Shari and Nancy Bruning. "Copper." In The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book: Using Supplements for Optimum Health Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1997.

Passwater, Richard A. All About Antioxidants. Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1998.

PERIODICALS

Gonzalez, M. J, et al. "Inhibition of Human Breast Carcinoma Cell Proliferation by Ascorbate and Copper."The Journal of Nutrition 131, no. 11 (November 2001): 3142S.

Hunt, Janet R., and Richard A. Vanderpool. "Apparent Copper Absorption from a Vegetarian Diet."American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 74, no. 6 (December 2001): 803–805.

Reginster, Jean-Yves, Anne Noel Taquet, and Christiane Gosset. "Therapy for Osteoporosis: Miscellaneous and Experimental Agents."Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics (June 1998): 453–463.

Uauy, Ricardo, Manuel Olivarez, and Mauricio Gonzales. "Essentiality of Copper in Humans."American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 67 suppl (1998): 952S–959S.

OTHER

"Copper" The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. [cited October 2002]. <http://www.merck.com>. Rosenstein, Elliot D., and Jacques R. Caldwell. "Therapies: Trace Elements in the Treatment of Rheumatic Conditions." In Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America. Part II. [cited May 2000]. <http://www.mdconsult.com>.

Mai Tran

Teresa G. Odle