Copper the "emotional mineral"
Life is not easy for many copper-toxic people. Most are highly intelligent, very sensitive, angry and emotional, at times, and the copper may help detach them from the world.
Uses
Excellent source here, especially related to Tourette's.
Nervous system. Copper stimulates production of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. It is also required for monoamine oxidase, an enzyme related to serotonin production. As a result, copper is involved deeply with all aspects of the central nervous system. Copper imbalances are highly associated with most psychological, emotional and often neurological conditions. These include memory loss, especially in young people, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Required to fix calcium in the bones and to build and repair all connective tissue. Imbalances can contribute to osteoporosis, bone spurs, and almost all conditions of the skin, hair and nails, cardiovascular problems, tendon and ligament conditions, scoliosis, and other skeletal and structural imbalances as well.
Energy production in the cells. Any problem here causes fatigue, depression and other imbalances related to low energy. Copper is required to change the form of iron from ferric to ferrous and back again, and is required to incorporate iron into hemoglobin.
Immune Response. Copper must remain in balance with zinc or one is more prone to all infections, in particular fungal and yeast infections, chronic sinus infections if they have common symptoms such as post-nasal drip.
The glandular system, particularly the thyroid and adrenal glands. The thyroid gland is extremely sensitive to copper.
Related to estrogen metabolism and the reproductive system.
Nervous system. Copper stimulates production of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. It is also required for monoamine oxidase, an enzyme related to serotonin production. As a result, copper is involved deeply with all aspects of the central nervous system. Copper imbalances are highly associated with most psychological, emotional and often neurological conditions. These include memory loss, especially in young people, depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Required to fix calcium in the bones and to build and repair all connective tissue. Imbalances can contribute to osteoporosis, bone spurs, and almost all conditions of the skin, hair and nails, cardiovascular problems, tendon and ligament conditions, scoliosis, and other skeletal and structural imbalances as well.
Energy production in the cells. Any problem here causes fatigue, depression and other imbalances related to low energy. Copper is required to change the form of iron from ferric to ferrous and back again, and is required to incorporate iron into hemoglobin.
Immune Response. Copper must remain in balance with zinc or one is more prone to all infections, in particular fungal and yeast infections, chronic sinus infections if they have common symptoms such as post-nasal drip.
The glandular system, particularly the thyroid and adrenal glands. The thyroid gland is extremely sensitive to copper.
Related to estrogen metabolism and the reproductive system.
Related
Copper accumulates in the liver first, then the brain and the reproductive organs. It affects major systems of the body incl the nervous system.
A complication is that blood levels of copper can be very low in persons who have severe copper overload. The classic example is Wilson's Disease in which the liver accumulates huge amounts of copper. These same Wilson's patients usually exhibit very LOW levels of Cu in blood.....also the exhibit extraordinary low levels of ceruloplasmin. Is essence their blood contains little copper, but the blood Cu is predominantly in "unbound" form.
Years ago, we mistakingly thought low blood serum or RBC copper levels meant Cu deficiency..... and in a few cases we cautiously gave Cu supplements in an attempt to correct the situation. Most of these patients reacted badly to the Cu. Proper evaluation of copper status requires both serum Cu and serum ceruloplasmin tests.
Hair mineral copper is very valuable for behavior disorders and ADHD patients, but is of far less clinical value for autism, bipolar, and schizophrenia populations.
Giving supplemental Cu to patients is a risky business. It should be considered only in those who exhibit sufficient ceruloplasmin to accomadate between 80 and 95% of the Cu present. (April 10, 2003)
Selenium deficiency itself could result in a nasty copper elevation. Metallothionein at the intestinal mucosa and in the liver is the primary agent which regulates copper in the body. Selenium is needed for efficient metallothionein functioning.
Carl Pfeiffer of Princeton, NJ tested more than 25,000 persons for copper & reported that Cu toxicity was common, but Cu deficiency extremely rare. We have investigated the metal-metabolism of about 20,000 persons & found the same thing. I admit there are theoretical rationale for expecting copper deficiency, but it rarely actually happens.
Hair analysis ALONE is a very poor way to assess copper status. I say this after (a) evaluating more than 100,000 hair analyses, (b) developing the first high-quality hair standards (loaned to NIH and other researchers), and (c) performing numerous double-blind, controlled experiments involving hair chemistries. Findings of high Cu levels in hair are compromised by the many external sources of Cu which cannot be completely removed by washing. Low levels of Cu in hair and/or blood often are coincident with dangerous overloads of Cu in liver. Hair Cu values can provide information of clinical significance, but by itself is not clinically decisive.
Serum Cu indicates the total amount of Cu in serum. Serum ceruloplasmin indicates the fraction of serum Cu that is bound as ceruloplasmin. A simple calculation (paying attention to the assay units) yields the numbers for comparison. Most copper experts agree that the normal or "healthy" situation is to have about 80 to 95% of the serum Cu present as ceruloplasmin.
A high fraction of "unbound" Cu is a good indicator of oxidative stress and low metallothionein activity...... and also a warning to NOT to supplement with Cu, even if serum/RBC/hair levels of copper are low. In addition, one should consider possible environmental sources of Cu, especially drinking water and swimming pools/jacuzzis treated with copper sulfate (to kill algae.) (April 11, 2003)
The ceruloplasmin analysis indicates the amount of Cu properly bound to this protein (Should be 80-95% of total serum Cu). If serum and hair Cu are low, a high proportion of "unbound" Cu is a warning signal that there might be a Wilson's Disease-like situation...... Low serum/hair copper, but severe Cu overload in the liver. In some cases, testing for possible Wilson's Disease is indicated.
Usually, the question is whether there is a Cu overload. The incidence of true Cu deficiency/depletion is very low. (April 14, 2003)
High copper females respond very well to therapy with zinc, B-6, P-5-P, C, E..... However the Zn should be introduced slowly..... for example 25 mg....50 mg.... 75 mg..... and given either at bedtime or after the evening meal. B-6 and P5P should be given before noon. Failure to phase in the Zn slowly would be likely to result in temporary worsening of symptoms over the first few weeks.
She should avoid estrogen therapy, drink bottled water, and limit high-Cu foods like chocolate, carob, and shellfish.
If her primary imbalance is the Cu overload, very little improvement is likely during the first 3 weeks..... followed by striking improvement thereafter. If the patient is clearly better during the first week, this is probably due to overcoming the pyrrole disorder. In her case, you might get a nice initial improvement which is partial in nature..... followed by a plateau of several weeks before more progress is made. (April 14, 2003)
A complication is that blood levels of copper can be very low in persons who have severe copper overload. The classic example is Wilson's Disease in which the liver accumulates huge amounts of copper. These same Wilson's patients usually exhibit very LOW levels of Cu in blood.....also the exhibit extraordinary low levels of ceruloplasmin. Is essence their blood contains little copper, but the blood Cu is predominantly in "unbound" form.
Years ago, we mistakingly thought low blood serum or RBC copper levels meant Cu deficiency..... and in a few cases we cautiously gave Cu supplements in an attempt to correct the situation. Most of these patients reacted badly to the Cu. Proper evaluation of copper status requires both serum Cu and serum ceruloplasmin tests.
Hair mineral copper is very valuable for behavior disorders and ADHD patients, but is of far less clinical value for autism, bipolar, and schizophrenia populations.
Giving supplemental Cu to patients is a risky business. It should be considered only in those who exhibit sufficient ceruloplasmin to accomadate between 80 and 95% of the Cu present. (April 10, 2003)
Selenium deficiency itself could result in a nasty copper elevation. Metallothionein at the intestinal mucosa and in the liver is the primary agent which regulates copper in the body. Selenium is needed for efficient metallothionein functioning.
Carl Pfeiffer of Princeton, NJ tested more than 25,000 persons for copper & reported that Cu toxicity was common, but Cu deficiency extremely rare. We have investigated the metal-metabolism of about 20,000 persons & found the same thing. I admit there are theoretical rationale for expecting copper deficiency, but it rarely actually happens.
Hair analysis ALONE is a very poor way to assess copper status. I say this after (a) evaluating more than 100,000 hair analyses, (b) developing the first high-quality hair standards (loaned to NIH and other researchers), and (c) performing numerous double-blind, controlled experiments involving hair chemistries. Findings of high Cu levels in hair are compromised by the many external sources of Cu which cannot be completely removed by washing. Low levels of Cu in hair and/or blood often are coincident with dangerous overloads of Cu in liver. Hair Cu values can provide information of clinical significance, but by itself is not clinically decisive.
Serum Cu indicates the total amount of Cu in serum. Serum ceruloplasmin indicates the fraction of serum Cu that is bound as ceruloplasmin. A simple calculation (paying attention to the assay units) yields the numbers for comparison. Most copper experts agree that the normal or "healthy" situation is to have about 80 to 95% of the serum Cu present as ceruloplasmin.
A high fraction of "unbound" Cu is a good indicator of oxidative stress and low metallothionein activity...... and also a warning to NOT to supplement with Cu, even if serum/RBC/hair levels of copper are low. In addition, one should consider possible environmental sources of Cu, especially drinking water and swimming pools/jacuzzis treated with copper sulfate (to kill algae.) (April 11, 2003)
The ceruloplasmin analysis indicates the amount of Cu properly bound to this protein (Should be 80-95% of total serum Cu). If serum and hair Cu are low, a high proportion of "unbound" Cu is a warning signal that there might be a Wilson's Disease-like situation...... Low serum/hair copper, but severe Cu overload in the liver. In some cases, testing for possible Wilson's Disease is indicated.
Usually, the question is whether there is a Cu overload. The incidence of true Cu deficiency/depletion is very low. (April 14, 2003)
High copper females respond very well to therapy with zinc, B-6, P-5-P, C, E..... However the Zn should be introduced slowly..... for example 25 mg....50 mg.... 75 mg..... and given either at bedtime or after the evening meal. B-6 and P5P should be given before noon. Failure to phase in the Zn slowly would be likely to result in temporary worsening of symptoms over the first few weeks.
She should avoid estrogen therapy, drink bottled water, and limit high-Cu foods like chocolate, carob, and shellfish.
If her primary imbalance is the Cu overload, very little improvement is likely during the first 3 weeks..... followed by striking improvement thereafter. If the patient is clearly better during the first week, this is probably due to overcoming the pyrrole disorder. In her case, you might get a nice initial improvement which is partial in nature..... followed by a plateau of several weeks before more progress is made. (April 14, 2003)
Watch for...
It is possible for a person to become copper-toxic, copper-deficient or to have a condition called biounavailable copper.
Copper and vitamin C are direct antagonists. This is one reason many people feel better taking a lot of vitamin C. Copper tends to oxidize and destroy vitamin C in the body. Meanwhile, vitamin C chelates or removes copper from the body at a dose of vitamin C of at least 500 mg daily.
High-copper mothers pass on excessive copper (and often low zinc) to the fetus through the placenta. This is called congenital, rather than genetic high copper. Jaundice results in newborn.
Stress of any kind can lower zinc and raise the copper level.
Excess copper interferes with zinc, a mineral needed to make digestive enzymes.
Chocolate is high in copper.
Meats contain copper, but it is balanced by zinc which competes for its absorption.
Copper pipes. Another source of copper is drinking water that remained in copper water pipes, or copper added to your water supply.
to reduce algae growth
Deficiencies of manganese, iron, selenium, chromium and other minerals can contribute to copper accumulation.
Deficiencies in the diet of B-vitamins and vitamin C.
Copper and vitamin C are direct antagonists. This is one reason many people feel better taking a lot of vitamin C. Copper tends to oxidize and destroy vitamin C in the body. Meanwhile, vitamin C chelates or removes copper from the body at a dose of vitamin C of at least 500 mg daily.
High-copper mothers pass on excessive copper (and often low zinc) to the fetus through the placenta. This is called congenital, rather than genetic high copper. Jaundice results in newborn.
Stress of any kind can lower zinc and raise the copper level.
Excess copper interferes with zinc, a mineral needed to make digestive enzymes.
Chocolate is high in copper.
Meats contain copper, but it is balanced by zinc which competes for its absorption.
Copper pipes. Another source of copper is drinking water that remained in copper water pipes, or copper added to your water supply.
to reduce algae growth
Deficiencies of manganese, iron, selenium, chromium and other minerals can contribute to copper accumulation.
Deficiencies in the diet of B-vitamins and vitamin C.
Testing
Hair testing is by far the best method to detect copper imbalances.
An ideal range of copper in the hair is about 1.5-2.5 mg% or about 15-25 ppm. Any number higher than this tends to indicate excessive copper in the hair tissue and, by extension, in other tissues of the body. A hair copper level of less than about 1.5 mg% usually indicates hidden copper toxicity.
Test for ratios of copper, potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium
Fast/slow oxidation of metabolism
An ideal range of copper in the hair is about 1.5-2.5 mg% or about 15-25 ppm. Any number higher than this tends to indicate excessive copper in the hair tissue and, by extension, in other tissues of the body. A hair copper level of less than about 1.5 mg% usually indicates hidden copper toxicity.
Test for ratios of copper, potassium, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium
Fast/slow oxidation of metabolism
Treating
Test for, using hair
see here for many details on balancing nutrition protocol
see here for many details on balancing nutrition protocol
Sources
Food
Foods in order of density