Better immune system from Copper? Possibly!
Written: Jan 01 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: ~May help aid a lot of funtions~
Cons: ~Read Warnings~
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| jro26's Full Review: Copper |
Copper is not only a very important mineral to use but it is even more important to know exactly what it can and can’t do. I have researched information on copper and found a lot of interesting information on what it does, how it does it, if you need supplements and lots more question that I have found answers to.
First of all is only available from a natural source. Copper cannot be found from a synthetic source and as of now there is no required prescription to take this mineral.
Natural Sources of Copper
Avocados, fish, legumes, lentils, liver, lobster, nuts, oats, oysters, peanuts, raisins, salmon, shell fish, soybeans and spinach. Note: Copper-bottom pans and pipes can raise the copper content of water supply and food.
What Copper Does And How You Can Benefit
Copper promotes normal red-blood-cell formation, acts as a catalyst in storage and release of iron to form hemoglobin for red blood cells, and assists in production of several enzymes involved in respiration. Copper also promotes connective-tissue formation and central-nervous-system function, assists in production of several enzymes involved in forming melanin, promotes normal insulin function and helps maintain myelin. Copper can also be part of superoxide and its antioxidant capacity.
Possible Additional Benefits
Copper may be used to treat nutritional anemias along with iron, B-12 and/or folate, may protects against cardiovascular disease; however, balance is critical because high levels of copper have been seen in patients with cardiovascular disease, possible reduces inflammation associated with arthritis and copper may also enhance your immune function.
Will You Benefit from Additional Amounts of Copper?
Well, if you have one of the following, you may be in need of additional amounts of copper.
1. Inadequate caloric or dietary intake or increased nutritional requirements.
2. People over 55 years of age
3. If you are a abuser of alcohol or other drugs
4. If you are a person with a chronic wasting illness, particularly those with chronic diarrhea, malabsorption disorders or kidney disease.
5. If you are on long-term zinc supplements
6. If you have recently sustained severe burns or injuries
Deficiency Symptoms
Some of the symptoms pertaining to a copper deficiency include anemia, low white-blood-cell count associated with reduces resistance to infection, faulty collagen formation, bone demineralization (excess elimination of a mineral or inorganic salts) and loss of hair or skin pigmentation.
Information on Usage
What this mineral does: Copper is an essential component of a number of proteins and enzymes, including lysyl, hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase.
Misc. Information
Plasma-Copper levels may increase in people with rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy, and cirrhosis of the liver, myocardial infarction/heart attack, schizophrenia, tumors or severe infection. Copper supplementation of 2mg/day is recommended for people on long-term zinc therapy supplementation. Menkes syndrome is a genetic defect in copper metabolism, which requires medical intervention. Processed foods may reduce normal copper absorption. Plasma-Copper levels decrease with hypothyroidism, neutropenia, leukemia, kwashiorkor, sprue and nephrosis. Most nutritionists recommend a balanced diet rather than extra supplementation that could upset the body’s delicate mineral balance.
Available as: Tablets: with copper tablets you are supposed to swallow whole with a full glass of water. Don’t chew or crush the tablet and take it within 1 hour after a meal unless otherwise directed. Copper is also available in many multivitamin/mineral supplements.
Warnings!!
Do NOT take if you have Wilson’s disease.. Consult your doctor if you are taking a copper supplement. Consult your doctor if you are breastfeeding or pregnant. Copper can have effects on lab tests. Cobalt, iron, nickel and oral contraceptives with estrogens can cause a false positive or elevated copper values.
Overdose and Toxicity
Signs and Symptoms: Nausea and vomiting, muscle aches, abdominal pain and anemian.
What to do: For symptoms of overdose discontinue mineral and consult a doctor ASAP. For an accidental overdose, such as a child taking a whole bottle, dial 911 or call the nearest PCC (Poison Control Center).
Interactions with Medicine, Vitamins or Minerals
Copper taken with Cadmium may interfere with copper absorption and utilization. Fiber combined with Copper may interfere with absorption and utilization of copper also but is not clinically significant. If you are taking Copper along with Molybdenum they may cause a problem. This is why, molybdenum maintains appropriate ratio of copper to molybdenum in body. If you have excessive amounts of copper, you molybdenum level drops. If you have excessive amounts of molybdenum, your copper level drops. Also if you are taking any oral contraceptives along with copper they may have the combined effect of increasing your copper level but the significance is unknown at this time. Phytates, cereals and vegetables, may interfere with copper absorption and utilization but is not clinically significant. Vitamin C and Copper can decrease absorption of copper. Large doses of Vitamin C must be taken to produce this effect. Copper and Zinc may interfere again with the absorption and utilization of copper, copper supplement advised.
What Test Can Find a Copper Deficiency?
Only 2 tests are available right now to test your copper levels to find a deficiency . Your plasma-copper levels can be tested or you can have a urine-copper level test in a 24-hour urine collection.
**Also, no adverse side effects or reaction are expected from taking copper.
**Consult your doctor!!! Always consult your doctor before taking any vitamin or mineral!
Recommended:
Yes
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jro26
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Member: Jillian
Location: California
Reviews written: 273
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Love my two cute boys that I stay home with.
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