Copper

Why copper is good for you

Copper is an essential trace mineral. It is required in the formation of haemoglobin, red blood cells and for healthy bones. It helps with the formation of elastin as well as collagen – making it necessary for wound healing. Copper works closely with iron for these functions.

Copper is a vital component of a number of essential enzymes. It is essential for energy production, connective tissue formation, iron metabolism, melanin formation and it also has an antioxidant function.

Copper is also necessary for the manufacture of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline as well as for the pigmentation of hair.

Important copper facts

• Copper is needed to help the body metabolise and use iron. Copper works together with iron to ensure haemoglobin is healthy and can carry enough oxygen to all the cells in the body to enable cell respiration
• Copper is also involved in producing several enzymes which help with cell respiration
• Copper is required so that the body can make proper collagen and elastin, which helps to keep the skin, hair and nails healthy and in good condition
• The absorption of large amounts of vitamin C and zinc can negatively influence the level of copper in the body, while large amounts of fructose can make a copper deficiency worse
• Be careful of having any liquids stored in copper containers, as the liquid could absorb too much of the copper
• Penicillamine is used to bind copper and enhance copper’s elimination in Wilson’s disease, a genetic disorder resulting in copper overload
• Processed foods may inhibit the proper absorption of copper. A diet high in processed foods is not advised, to ensure correct copper absorption

Copper works best with

• Folic acid
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Amino acids
• Iron
• Manganese
• Zinc

Copper and health

• Copper is required for healthy red blood cells
  Copper is required to help make properly formed and sufficient amounts of haemoglobin, which is needed to carry oxygen to all the cells in the body. This ensures that the red blood cells are healthy and functioning properly
• Copper is an antioxidant
  Copper has antioxidant properties because it is a component of the super antioxidant made by the body – superoxide dismutase. Copper helps to fight the damaging effects of free radicals by neutralising them before they can harm any of the tissues or cells in the body and in particular preventing mutation of the DNA
• Copper is vital for neuron (nerve) health
  Copper helps to maintain and regulate healthy myelin sheaths (the fatty insulating substance around most nerve cells), which also helps to promote a healthy central nervous system, due to the important role that the myelin sheath has on enabling healthy nerve impulses
• Copper is needed to make neurotransmitters
  Copper is needed to help manufacture two neurotransmitters – dopamine and noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which are vital in the proper functioning of the brain and in enabling regulated mood and cognitive functions
• Copper promotes normal insulin function
  Copper is required to enable proper insulin function – to signal to cell receptors to accept glucose for energy
• Cardiovascular disease
  Several studies based on geographic regions have found that increased blood copper levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease
• Osteoporosis
  Osteoporosis has been observed in infants and adults with severe copper deficiency, but it is not clear whether marginal copper deficiency contributes to osteoporosis
• The immune system
  Copper is known to play an important role in the development and maintenance of immune system function, but the exact mechanism of its action is not yet known

People who wish to take a copper supplement should talk to a medical professional before taking it.

Groups at risk of copper deficiency

Severe copper deficiency is relatively uncommon, yet approximately 25% of the population may be at risk of copper deficiency. The following groups are at most risk of deficiency:

• Infants/children fed only cow’s milk formula
  Cow’s milk is relatively low in copper, so children and babies fed cow’s milk formula could become deficient. Specific groups at highest risk are: premature babies, especially those with low birth weights, babies with severe diarrhoea and children and babies suffering from malnutrition
• People with malabsorption syndromes
  People with celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, sprue and short bowel syndrome due to surgical removal of a large portion of the intestine may be deficient in copper
• People taking high levels of vitamin C or zinc supplements
  People taking high supplemental levels of vitamin C and/or zinc could become deficient in copper because both of these nutrients block copper absorption when they are taken in high doses. Copper supplementation is highly recommended in these cases.
• People on restricted medical diets
  May not be getting enough copper due to the restriction of a medical diet and may need supplementation
• People with cystic fibrosis
  Recent research has indicated that people with cystic fibrosis may also be at increased risk of copper insufficiency

People in these group at risk of deficiency should talk to a medical professional about copper supplements before taking them.

Symptoms of copper deficiency

Copper can be stored in the body, so deficiency is rare. If there is copper deficiency, there will almost always be an iron deficiency too, which can lead to anaemia as well as increase the likelihood for infections, osteoporosis, thinning of bones, thyroid gland dysfunction, heart disease as well as nervous system problems.

One of the most common clinical signs of copper deficiency is an anemia that is unresponsive to iron therapy but corrected by copper supplementation.

A lack of copper may lead to increased blood fat (triglyceride) levels.

General symptoms of copper deficiency include:

• Anaemia
• Bone demineralisation
• Decreased dopamine and noradrenaline levels
• Faulty collagen formation
• Increased infections
• Loss of hair
• Low white blood levels
• Skin pigmentation

People who experience any of the symptoms above should seek the advice of their doctor about copper supplementation.

Copper in food

Copper recommended daily intake (RDI)

The tolerable upper limits should only be taken for short periods and only under medical supervision.

* The tolerable upper limit for copper for infants aged 0-12 months has not yet been determined due to a lack of data about the adverse effects in this age group. The only source of copper intake should be from food (breast milk and/or baby formula).

Copper toxicity 

Copper is toxic at doses greater than 40mg per day.

Acute copper toxicity

Acute copper toxicity (> 250mg) causes the following symptoms:

• Coma *
• Fever
• Low blood pressure *
• Tachycardia (irregular heart beat) *

* People who experience the highlighted symptoms should seek immediate emergency treatment. Toxic levels of copper can ultimately cause death.

Chronic copper toxicity

Chronic copper toxicity (>40mg) causes the following symptoms:

• Abdominal cramps
• Anaemia
• Bloating of the hands and feet
• Diarrhoea
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Green stools
• Irritability
• Joint and muscle pain
• Light sensitivity
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Premature ageing
• Psychosis
• Vomiting
• Wrinkling of the skin

People who experience any of the above toxicity symptoms should discontinue their copper supplements and seek the advice of their doctor.

Overdosage and toxicity is more likely to occur from taking too many supplements, whereas dietary intake of copper is highly unlikely to cause overdosage.

Precautions

Certain people should not take copper supplements:

• People with Wilson’s disease or people with Menkes syndrome
  People with Wilson’s disease or Menkes syndrome have a metabolic disorder which causes them to accumulate abnormally higher than normal levels of copper in the brain and liver. This can cause acute hepatitis which may become chronic, drooling, open mouthedness, psychosis, headaches, miscarriage Copper supplementation is not advised as it can really exacerbate their condition.

Certain people should seek medical advice before taking copper supplements:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
  Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and are considering taking copper supplements should consult with their doctor before taking them.

Interactions with medications and supplements

The following are the medications and supplements that are more likely to cause a reaction with copper supplements:

• Cadmium
  Cadmium may interfere with the absorption and usage of copper, so should be avoided. Cadmium should be avoided in any case as it is a toxin.
• Fibre
  There is some research that shows high fibre intake can interfere with absorption and usage of copper, but the effects are not too severe and can usually be remedied as soon as the high fibre intake is somewhat decreased.
• Molybdenum
  Molybdenum maintains correct ratios of copper to molybdenum. If high supplements of copper are used, then molybdenum also needs to be supplemented.
• Oral contraceptives
  Oral contraceptives are used to prevent contraception. If copper supplements are taken at the same time as oral contraceptives, then the oral contraceptives can increase copper levels in the body.

Other interactions with copper

• Copper levels increase in certain health conditions
  Research shows that blood copper levels may increase in people with the following health conditions – rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis of the liver, heart attack, schizophrenia and tumours.
• Copper levels decrease in certain health conditions
  Research also shows that blood copper levels may decrease in people with the following health conditions – hypothyroidism, kwashiorkor, leukopenia, nephrosis, neutropenia and sprue.
• High levels of zinc and vitamin C can block copper absorption
  High levels of either zinc or vitamin C can block absorption and therefore blood levels of copper in the body. People taking either of these supplements need to take a copper supplement to enable correct copper levels in the body and balance the levels of all these nutrients to be more normalised.

Copper’s effect on lab tests

Copper has the following effect on lab tests:

• Serum cobalt levels
• Serum iron levels
• Serum nickel levels

People taking copper supplements and the above supplements can cause falsely elevated levels of copper.

References

• USDA National Nutrient Database – provides nutrient values for foods (accessed 5 January 2005)
• Osiecki, H. The Nutrient Bible. Bio-Concepts Publishing QLD, 2002
• Whitney EN, Cataldo DB, Rolfes SR. Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition, 6th Edition. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2002

Last updated: 6 May 2024