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Copper intake and assessment of copper status
1US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND 58202-9034, USA. dmilne@gfhnrc.ars.usda.gov
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|May 20, 1998
Summary
Diagnosing marginal copper deficiency remains challenging. Copper-containing enzymes in blood cells show promise as better indicators of nutritional status than plasma measurements.
Area of Science:
- Human Nutrition
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Accurate diagnosis of marginal copper deficiency is hindered by nonstandardized methods and confounding factors.
- Physiological roles of copper are increasingly understood, yet ideal indicators of human copper nutritional status are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate indicators of copper nutritional status in humans.
- To determine adequate copper intake levels for maintenance and recovery from deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on experimental copper deprivation in adult humans over 12 years.
- Analysis of copper-containing enzyme activities (e.g., erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, platelet cytochrome-c oxidase) versus plasma copper and ceruloplasmin concentrations.
Main Results:
- Adults require 1.0–1.25 mg of copper daily for maintenance up to 6 months.
- 2.6 mg of copper daily for up to 42 days is insufficient for recovery from copper deprivation.
- Copper-containing enzymes in blood cells appear more reliable indicators than plasma copper or ceruloplasmin.
Conclusions:
- Copper-containing enzymes in blood cells may offer superior assessment of copper status compared to plasma markers.
- Further research is needed to refine diagnostic criteria for marginal copper deficiency.