Copper and its benefits have been recorded throughout the past and even now we prefer to drink water from copper utensils. It is a naturally occurring element that is essential for the development and functioning of the body. Copper is a trace mineral that is heavily involved in the oxidation process of the body. The presence of copper deficiency is very common, and it can occur in different forms like anaemia, neutropenia, myelopathy, neuropathy, and genetic disorders like Menkes.
Functions of Copper
Copper is present is in proteins and almost all the body copper is associated with proteins. Adequacy of copper concentration in the body is required for the proper functioning of other vitamins like B12 and minerals such as zinc and iron.
Copper deficiency may lead to connective tissue issues, impaired bone calcification, myelopathy, and neuropathy. These health conditions are mainly due to acquired deficiency however, inherited deficiency is caused by the Menkes a rare form of a genetic disorder.
What is Copper Deficiency?
Clinical evidence of acquired copper deficiency can be caused by the inadequate consumption of copper in our daily intake it can be a food item or drinking through copper utensils. It can also be caused by the malabsorption of copper due to several health conditions like gastrointestinal surgeries, sprue, cystic fibrosis.
Another form of copper deficiency is inherited deficiency which is caused by Menkes. It occurs in male infants who inherit mutant X-linked genes. It is very rare, and the possibility of its occurrence is 1 in 250,000 live births.
Causes of Copper Deficiency
The condition of copper deficiency can be developed due to various factors. Some of the major cause has been illustrated below:
- Inadequate Diet: The long-term deprivation of a copper-rich diet is the common cause of its deficiency. In children, it is caused by the low consumption of a protein-rich diet. The major source of copper are fruits, nuts, and vegetables which are unavailable to certain groups of people. This condition is very much common in South-Asian and African countries than in developed countries.
- Unavailability of Nutritious Food: Copper deficient soil can be another cause of the availability of copper-deficient food items. It occurs in different geographies and can be resolved with fortified seeds.
- GI Disorders: Copper is mostly stored in the form of protein. However, its absorption is affected by gastrointestinal surgeries like bariatric surgeries. This kind of surgery is very common in countries with huge consumption of fast foods.
- Zinc Intake: Excessive zinc intake is another cause of the copper deficiency. Based on the reactivity series, zinc is more likely to replace copper as it is more active than copper. This results in the malabsorption of copper in the body.
- Chronic Diarrhoea: The long-term condition of diarrhoea and vomiting leads to the deficiency of copper in the body. It doesn’t provide any settling time for copper-rich food to absorb properly through GI tracts and causes its deficiency.
- Menkes: It is a rare genetic disorder that causes malabsorption of copper in children. The victims of Menkes rarely survive more than 10 years. The common symptoms of Menkes are impaired cognitive abilities, vomiting, diarrheas, arterial rupture, bone deformation.
Symptoms of Copper Deficiency
The common symptoms of Copper deficiency include:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Pale skin
- Arterial Rupture
- Sparse hair
- Muscle soreness
- Always feeling cold
Health Risks due to Low Copper
- Anaemia: The role of copper deficiency in humans is complex and multifunctional. It’s heavily involved in the cell oxidation process and certain copper-binding protein participates in oxidation to make certain compound like ferrous oxide into more usable form like ferric oxide. Copper deficiency can also cause low white blood cell counts. It may also cause non-responsive of iron to chronic anaemia.
- Neural Disorders: Copper acts as cofactors of several proteins responsible for the proper structure and function of the nervous system. It also participates in cell division and protein synthesis. Copper deficiency can cause several neuro-disorders like myelopathy and neuropathy.
Some other health risks associated with copper deficiencies are impaired bone calcification, ataxia, hyper flexibility of the joints and fragility of the veins in newborns, increased risk of atherosclerosis, and impaired bone marrow.
Tests for Copper Deficiency
Copper is the trace mineral present in the body. It is mainly available as a cofactor with several proteins. The blood test of copper involves the measurement of copper-binding protein ceruloplasmin.
- Serum Test: To measure the concentration of copper in the human body serum copper test is performed. It involves the measurement of copper-binding protein ceruloplasmin. However, the results obtained from these tests are not very reliable. The same test has been used for the diagnosis of Menkes as well.
Remedies of Copper Deficiency
- Copper Supplements: The clinical remedy for copper deficiency are to take copper supplements. If you are diagnosed with a severe Copper deficiency, you should consider medical supplements under the supervision of doctors. As higher Copper may lead to copper toxicity.
- Copper Rich Diet: The simple way to prevent copper deficiency is to intake copper-rich food items in a daily diet. Some of the copper-rich food items are liver, crab, oyster, mushrooms, lobster, leafy veggies, nuts.
- Fortified Food Items: Several agricultural lands across the globe are poor in micronutrients which produces nutrient deficient food items. It can be overcome by copper-rich fertilisers and fortified seeds.
- Balanced Zinc Diet: The presence of excessive zinc in the body interferes with the absorption of copper. It is necessary to maintain the balance between zinc and copper concentration in the body.
Prevention of Copper Deficiency
It is often said that “Prevention is better than Cure” and indeed this is very much true about micronutrient deficiencies. Copper deficiency can be prevented through the consumption of Copper rich diet.
- Organ Meat
- Crab
- Oyster
- Mushrooms
- Lobster
- Leafy veggies
- Nuts
Adequate Intake (>19 yrs.):
A simple way to prevent Copper deficiencies is to maintain recommended daily intakes. The intakes of copper vary with the different age groups however, the recommended daily intake of copper for an adult is 900 mcg.
Summary
Copper is an essential trace mineral required to perform multifactorial roles for the proper function of the body. It acts as a cofactor for several proteins responsible for the proper structure & function of the nervous system and enzymes responsible for the absorption of other essential minerals in the body. Copper deficiency causes one of the rare and deadliest genetic disorders Menkes.
Although Copper deficiency has several ill effects, it can be treated with the right consultation and medical supplements as prescribed by medical experts however, a high concentration of copper may be deadly. The best possible way to avoid these complications by consuming an adequate amount of Copper, as per RDA through various Copper rich diets.
