COPPER

General Description:

• copper in the blood is bound to a protein called ceruloplasmin
• Cu is a part of many enzymes including one that produces noradrenaline

Actions:

Deficiency:

• levels of ceruloplasmin (a copper-containing enzyme) are used to test for Cu deficiency
• a rare genetic disease called Menke's syndrome, is marked by a copper deficiency, but it is failure to absorb copper rather than an inadequate intake to blame

Interactions and Toxicity:

• kidney disease can impair Cu nutrition
• high intakes of zinc and vitamin C can impair Cu absorption

Sources:

• best: oysters and dried yeast
• other good: nuts, seeds, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables
• poor: refined sugars, cereals, and milk