Copper and the Human Body

Copper for Health and Nutrition

 
As a naturally occurring element, copper is present in the world around us. Human life has evolved in this natural presence and we have built-in mechanisms for using it. Copper is required as part of a balanced diet and it is a topic of major interest to doctors and nutritionists.

We obtain copper from a variety of sources. As a natural element, it appears in many of the foods we eat and the water we drink. The digestive system of the body assimilates the amount necessary for good health through an effective system of uptake, called homeostasis. Copper in excess to what is required is excreted.

Copper's Role in Growth and Development

Copper is essential for infant growth, bone strength, red and white blood cell maturation, iron transport, cholesterol and glucose metabolism, heart muscle contraction, and brain development. Copper nutrition is important for pregnant women, the developing foetus and new-born babies. A typical recommended daily requirement is 1-2 mg for adults and 0.5-1 mg for children.

According to the World Health Organisation, there is a greater risk from copper deficiency than from copper toxicity, even in developed areas such as the US and Western Europe. Copper deficiency can lead to health problems such as anaemia, heart and circulation problems, bone abnormalities and complications in the functioning of the nervous and immune systems, the lungs, thyroid, pancreas and kidneys.