[The nutrition role of milk ceruloplasmin]

Copper is an essential trace element for all aerobic organisms. In mammals, it is a structural and redox-based co-factor of the vital enzymes. Besides catalytic function, copper acts as a modulator of cell signaling ways. However copper ions outside the pre-organized coordination sphere can initiate the formation formation of reactive oxygen species through Fenton type reactions. Both deficiency and excess of copper lead to the development of the cardiovascular, neoplastic, and neurodegenerative diseases. In the present article the data on copper physiological functions as well as peculiarities of the mechanism of copper safe transport are briefly reviewed. Also the results of investigation of the mechanisms supporting copper homeostasis and mechanistic features of copper homeodynamics in the newborns are summarized. The data on molecular genetic mechanism of the mammary glands, which controls nutrition copper balance for newborns, are analyzed. The role of milk ceruloplasmin as the newborn's main source of nutritional copper is discussed. The quantity and quality of the baby formula copper-containing additives and their potential long-term health effects are considered.