Copper
Copper was first discovered in 1928 by Hart and Company. They found that iron had a problem being assimilated by the body unless copper was present. This was later confirmed in 1935 by Elvehjem when he found that the production of chromoprotein in the red blood cells was based on copper's presence in the human system. This chromoprotein is now known as hemoglobin and it carries a vast amount of oxygen in the blood.
Copper is a vital element necessary to human existence. It is key in respiration, Menke's disease (a children's genetic disease of abnormal copper metabolism), rheumatoid arthritis, arteriosclerosis and has even been of value in protecting the lungs from damage due to emphysema. Menke's disease, however, does not improve with copper supplementation. Most children who contract this disease die before reaching the age of three.
The CDC predicts that by the year 2020 the amount of arthritis sufferers in the usa will have increased to 57% of the populace. Arthritis is the inflammation and soreness of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is more than that as it affects the nervous system and the muscles as well. Some researchers believe that it is an immune problem as the body seems to be unable to tell the difference between viruses and the antibodies produced by the body to fend them off, thus destroying the good cells. Whatever the case may be, copper has been found to be an essential element in slowing down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis. Copper is found to be beneficial in protecting elastin (the fibrous material that makes our skin flexible), collagen fibers, smooth muscle cells and premature aging of the arteries. It helps with heart function, immune function, collagen synthesis, metabolism, etc. Pretty amazing for a trace element.
According to Dr. Herbert Scheinberg, professor for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, it is hard to become copper toxic because of the many mechanisms installed in our bodies to rid ourselves of it. He does say that it CAN happen, just that it is not likely. Too much copper can cause hair loss, diarrhea, insomnia, metallic taste in one's mouth, abdominal pains, dizziness, depression, irregular menses, etc. If untreated, one can die of copper toxicity. Wilson's disease, a case of copper accumulation in the liver, can cause such things as kidney problems, hepatitis and neurological disorders. This is a rare genetic disease not commonly found among today's population. A lack of copper can lead to fatigue, blood disorders, anemia, aneurysms, skin hemorrhages, depleted calcium in the bones, etc.
It is believed that on average, an adult has between 100-150 mg of copper in their body. This is mainly found in the brain, kidneys, liver, heart and hair. It has been found to lower cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol. It is necessary for the formation of melanin (skin pigmentation), energy, metabolism of ascorbic acid and the oxidation of fatty acids.
It is interesting to note that high levels of copper are generally produced by those with viral infections, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, leukemia, some cancers, rheumatic fever and myocardial infarctions (heart attacks). At first it was thought that the excess of copper caused these conditions but new research has shown that copper is actually produced (robbed from the organs) by the body because of these conditions in an attempt to deal with them.
There is no real RDA for copper. It is believed that we get even less copper in our diets today than was originally thought. The ODA suggests .5-2 mgs. daily for adults although more will be needed by pregnant women. Copper is found in shellfish, nuts, whole grain cereals, raisins, legumes, liver, etc.
It is believed that upon ingestion, copper can be in the bloodstream within 15 minutes. It is also believed that copper is somehow involved in the formation of chlorophyll. It is interesting to note that the ink cloud an octopus produces when afraid is very high in this trace element. Baby animals are also born with high store of copper in their liver as their mother's milk tends to be low in it. For this reason, calf's liver is a valuable source of copper to many people as it provides 8 times the copper of an adult cow's liver.
Studies conducted on rats in the 50's-70's indicated those lacking in this valuable element turned gray or rather their hair turned gray. They aged prematurely. It would seem that a diet rich in copper would have it's advantages in that regard.
Dr. William Carnes reported on August 15, 1968 in the Medical Tribune that cardiovascular problems in animals can be a direct result of insufficient copper in the diet. He conducted a study using newborn pigs put on a diet of diluted evaporated milk. They soon developed lesions on the aorta and cardiovascular arteries. Death usually came from heart failure and ruptured aorta by the time they'd reached 4 months of age. If supplemented with copper these conditions could be reversed. Dr. Carnes found that these ruptures were caused by the reduced strength and flexibility of the coronary vessels. Instead of stretching to accommodate the load given, they would simply burst. Dr. Carnes noted that B vitamins were necessary in this as well. This would make sense as copper and B vitamins tend to be inseparably connected in a lot of functions within the body. Earl Frieden wrote a report in May 1968 published in Scientific American that stated, 'a copper deficiency can result in the weakening of the walls of certain blood vessels, notably the aorta, rendering the vessels susceptible to aneurysms and rupture.' Dr. Frieden also noted that coppers use by the body is extensive and not simply focused on one area.
Copper deficiencies have also been linked to osteoporosis. A study done in Jerusalem by Drs. K. Guggenheim and E. Tal, done on mice that were fed a diet of mostly meat was found to cause them to have serious bone disorders. Upon further study, they found that giving the mice 2.5 mg of manganese and 20 mg of copper per kilogram of body weight actually increased their bone density even though their diets were very poor in calcium.
Another interesting reference to copper deals with resistance to radiation. Dr. Jack Schubert discovered that organisms low in copper were extremely sensitive to radiation damage. The most sensitive tissues in man would be the white blood cells (our immune fighters), the spleen and the pancreas. Those that are least sensitive to radiation poisoning are the heart, kidney and the brain, all of which contain rich amounts of copper. In May 1968, Dr. Schubert's findings were published in Scientific American. He found that if one increased the amount of copper in the body that the cells resistance to radiation also increased.
Dr. Otto Warburg found that cancer is really caused by the lack of oxygen to the cells. One such study states that increasing copper in the diet, 'significantly retarded developments of cancers in animals and also decreased liver damage and cirrhosis caused by cancer-inducing materials.' One should be careful of copper toxicity due to the pesticides used on plants, decontaminants in the water and copper piping. This type of copper is not bioavailable to us and can cause toxicity in excess amounts.
Some more recent studies show copper to be necessary for maintaining the myelin sheath, T-cell function and maturation, bone marrow formation, regulation of neurotransmitters, the function of blood platelets, insulin function and wound healing in general. Clearly we could all use some.
Included herein are some links to further educate you about copper. Enjoy!
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