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Copper supplementation: failure to increase plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations in healthy infants
L Salmenperä1, M A Siimes, V Näntö
1Children's Hospital, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Insights
Dietary copper supplementation did not alter plasma copper or ceruloplasmin levels in healthy infants. These essential nutrient concentrations increased similarly across formula-fed and breast-fed infants, indicating resistance to dietary changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Trace Element Metabolism
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Infant nutrition requires adequate trace elements like copper for development.
- Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin are key indicators of copper status.
- Understanding copper requirements in infancy is crucial for optimal growth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of varying dietary copper levels on plasma copper and ceruloplasmin in infants.
- To compare copper status in infants fed standard formula, supplemented formula, and breast milk.
- To determine if plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations are influenced by formula fortification.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 200 Finnish infants from birth to 12 months.
- Randomized assignment to receive either standard or copper-supplemented cow's milk formula.
- Comparison group received exclusive breast milk.
- Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin levels measured at multiple time points (0, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 months).
Main Results:
- Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations increased steadily in all infant groups.
- No significant differences were observed between infants receiving standard formula, supplemented formula, or breast milk.
- Umbilical cord plasma copper was 4.6 ± 0.2 μmol/L, reaching 19.7 ± 0.3 μmol/L by 12 months.
- Umbilical cord plasma ceruloplasmin was 0.9 ± 0.1 μmol/L, reaching 3.2 ± 0.1 μmol/L by 12 months.
Conclusions:
- Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations in healthy, full-term infants are largely unaffected by dietary copper supplementation.
- Infant physiology demonstrates resilience in maintaining copper homeostasis regardless of moderate dietary variations.
- Current infant formulas likely provide adequate copper, rendering high-level supplementation unnecessary.
Abstract:
Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations at ages 0, 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 mo were longitudinally evaluated in our Finnish nutritional survey of 200 infants. The infants, who were weaned by age 3.5 mo, were randomly assigned to receive either a liquid cow-milk-based formula containing 1.3 mumol Cu/L (n = 16) or the same formula supplemented with 7.8 mumol Cu/L as Cu sulfate (n = 16). They were compared with exclusively breast-fed infants. Plasma Cu and ceruloplasmin concentrations increased steadily and similarly in all three groups from 4.6 +/- 0.2 mumol/L (means +/- SEM) and 0.9 +/- 0.1 mumol/L, respectively, in umbilical samples to 19.7 +/- 0.3 mumol/L and 3.2 +/- 0.1 mumol/L, respectively, at age 12 mo. Our results indicate that concentrations of plasma Cu and ceruloplasmin in healthy full-term infants are resistant to dietary supplementation.