Copper as a therapeutic supplement
Copper is a trace mineral that plays a crucial role in various enzymatic processes within the human body, despite being present in only small amounts. As a therapeutic supplement, it is primarily proposed for managing copper deficiency and Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder affecting copper metabolism. Additionally, copper may help balance high zinc intake, which can deplete copper levels in the body. While there are claims regarding copper's potential benefits for conditions such as heart disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases, scientific evidence supporting these uses remains limited.
Dietary sources of copper include oysters, liver, nuts, and whole grains, with recommended daily intakes varying by age and physiological status. High doses of copper supplementation are often suggested, but excessive intake can lead to toxicity, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women. Key interactions with other minerals, especially zinc, iron, and vitamin C, necessitate careful management of copper supplementation timing to optimize absorption. Overall, while copper has recognized therapeutic uses, further research is needed to substantiate its efficacy in treating various health conditions.
Copper as a therapeutic supplement
DEFINITION: Natural substance of the human body used as a supplement to treat specific health conditions.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USE: Balancing high zinc intake, treating copper deficiency, Wilson's disease
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Heart disease, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, protection against neurodegenerative diseases
Overview
The human body contains only 70 to 80 milligrams (mg) of copper, but it is an essential part of many important enzymes. Copper’s possible role in treating disease is based on the fact that these enzymes cannot do their jobs without it. However, there is little direct evidence that taking extra copper can treat any disease.
Requirements and Sources
The official US recommendations for daily intake of copper are as follows: 200 micrograms (mcg) for infants up to six months of age, 220 mcg for infants seven to twelve months of age, 340 mcg for children one to three years old, 440 mcg for children four to eight years old, 700 mcg for persons nine to thirteen years old, 890 mcg for persons fourteen to eighteen, and 900 mcg for those nineteen and older. Recommended intake is 1,000 mcg for pregnant women and 1,300 mcg for nursing women.
High zinc intake reduces copper stores in the body; therefore, those taking zinc in doses above nutritional levels (for example, in the treatment of macular degeneration) will need extra copper. In addition, persons taking iron or large doses of vitamin C may need extra copper. Ideally, copper should be taken at least two hours apart from these two nutrients, so that they do not interfere with each other’s absorption. Oysters, nuts, legumes, whole grains, sweet potatoes, and dark greens are good sources of copper. Drinking water that passes through copper plumbing is a good source of this mineral; sometimes, it may even provide too much.
Therapeutic Dosages
Copper is often recommended at a high (but still safe) daily dose of 1 to 3 mg (1,000 to 3,000 mcg).
Therapeutic Uses
Copper has been proposed as a treatment for osteoporosis, based primarily on studies that found benefit using combinations of various trace minerals, including copper. However, one study found that copper supplements taken alone may not be helpful.
One researcher, L. M. Klevay, has claimed in more than a dozen papers that copper deficiencies increase the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease, but he has failed to supply any real evidence that this idea is true. A small double-blind, placebo-controlled study of copper supplements for reducing heart disease risk factors such as cholesterol profile found no benefit.
Copper has long been mentioned as a possible treatment for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but there is yet to be any evidence that it works. Other therapeutic uses for copper supplementation include treating copper deficiencies and Wilson's Disease, a genetic disorder in which copper chelators are used to remove excess copper from the body. These copper-related conditions are the only conditions that have direct scientific evidence of copper's benefits. Other possible therapeutic uses for copper that continue to undergo research in the twenty-first century include antimicrobial properties that could be used to treat wounds and infections, anti-inflammatory properties that may prove useful in treating arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease, neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease, and cardiovascular benefits. More studies are needed to expand the limited scientific evidence for copper's benefits for these conditions.
Safety Issues
The following daily doses of copper should not be exceeded: 1,000 mcg for children ages one to three years, 3,000 mcg for children ages four to eight, 5,000 mcg for children ages nine to thirteen, 8,000 mcg for persons ages fourteen to eighteen, and 10,000 mcg for persons nineteen and older. Doses for pregnant or nursing women should not exceed 10,000 mcg or 8,000 mcg if the women are eighteen years old or younger. Maximum safe dosages of copper for individuals with severe liver or kidney disease have not been determined.
Important Interactions
Individuals who are taking zinc should be sure to get enough copper. Those persons taking iron supplements or high doses of vitamin C may need extra copper. They should take the copper either two hours before or two hours after taking these other substances.
Bibliography
Cashman, K. D., et al. "No Effect of Copper Supplementation on Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism in Healthy Young Adult Females Despite Apparently Improved Copper Status." European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 55, 2001, pp. 525-531.
"Copper Information." Mount Sinai, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/copper. Accessed 14 Sept. 2024.
Finley, E. B., and F. L. Cerklewski. "Influence of Ascorbic Acid Supplementation on Copper Status in Young Adult Men." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 37, 1983, pp. 553-556.
Rondanelli, Mariangela, et al. "Copper as a Daily Supplement for Bone Metabolism: A Review." Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 7, p. 2246, 19 June 2021, doi.org/10.3390/nu13072246. Accessed 13 Dec. 2022.
"Wilson Disease Agents - LiverTox." NCBI, 25 July 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548883. Accessed 14 Sept. 2024.