Copper deficiency in humans

Copper deficiency of nutritional origin has been recognized as an important part of complex nutritional problems in Peru, as an occasional even in premature babies in Western countries, and as a real hazard of over-zealous zinc therapy or of prolonged parenteral alimentation in children or adults. Anaemia, osteoporosis and scurvy-like bone changes are recognized in the deficiency, and they respond to copper. Copper intake is falling in western countries as a result of prepackaging of foods, and low-grade chronic deficiency may become a problem. The features seen in Menkes' syndrome suggest that human beings may be rather susceptible to the vascular and neurological effects of copper deficiency; these effects may be encountered as a consequence of prolonged mild copper deficiency. Measurement of the serum concentrations of caeruloplasmin before and after moderate copper repletion is suggested as a method of detecting mild copper deficiency.