A review of copper concentrations in Iranian populations

Copper contamination is increasing and can be a threat to human health. This review tries to summarize copper levels measured in humans in Iran. Persian databases such as SID, Magiran, and IranMedex and English databases such as Scopus, Pubmed, Science Direct, and the Google Scholar were searched using both English and Persian keywords. Twenty-six articles that measured the concentration of copper in human samples in Iran were included. According to the results of the reviewed studies, copper levels in some Iranian populations were higher than normal levels. These populations included pregnant women with preeclampsia, patients with oral cancer, patients with Giardiasis infection, patients with Parkinson's, children under the age of 12 years with β-thalassemia major, pregnant women in the third trimester, and type 2 diabetic patients. Copper levels were less than normal, in patients with tuberculosis after treatment and post-menopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Also, copper concentrations in patients with tuberculosis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, brucellosis, and molybdenum unit workers were higher, and copper concentrations in patients with Pemphigus vulgaris and coronary artery disease were less than those of their controls, but all were in the normal range (70-140 μg/dL). The amount of copper adsorption in various teeth was different. High levels of copper have been reported in some Iranian populations and this can be a threat to human health. Monitoring copper levels in some Iranian populations is necessary.