Copper 2 mg Chelated 100 Capsules Twinlab
Copper is a mineral that contributes to healing, synthesis of hemoglobin, hair and skin color. Copper also helps collagen formation, cardiovascular disease, and in the treatment of arthritis.
Instructions: As a dietary supplement, one capsule daily.
Additional Info: Natural, Chelated. Twinlab Chelated Copper Caps are easier to swallow and assimilate. Well tolerated by most highly allergic individuals.
Ingredients:
Copper (from chelated copper gluconate)?2mg?100% [% U S RDA]
Copper
Clinically Relevant Conditions
Ranking Health Conditions Secondary Acrodermatitis enteropathica High cholesterol
Menkes? disease (injectable copper histidine)
Osteoporosis
Wound healing
Other Cardiac arrhythmia Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Hypoglycemia
Minor injuries
Rheumatoid arthritis
Physiology and Clinical Effects Copper is needed to absorb and utilize iron. It is also part of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Copper supplementation has been shown to increase SOD levels in humans.1 Copper is needed to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy the body runs on. Synthesis of some hormones requires copper, as does collagen (the ?glue? that holds muscle tissue together) and tyrosinase (the enzyme that puts pigment into the skin).
Food Sources The best source of copper is oysters. Nuts, dried legumes, cereals, potatoes, vegetables, and meat also contain copper.
Deficiency and Risk Symptoms Many people consume slightly less than the ?safe and adequate range? of copper?1.5?3.0 mg per day. Little is known about the clinical effects of these marginally adequate intakes, though frank copper deficiency is uncommon. Children with Menkes? disease are unable to absorb copper normally and become severely deficient unless medically treated early in life. Deficiency can also occur in people who supplement with zinc without also increasing copper intake. Zinc interferes with copper absorption.2 Health consequences of zinc-induced copper deficiency can be quite serious.3 In the absence of copper supplementation, vitamin C supplementation has also been reported to mildly impair copper metabolism.4 Copper deficiency can cause anemia, a drop in HDL cholesterol (the ?good? cholesterol), and several other health problems.
Recommended Dosage Most people consume less than the recommended amount of this mineral. Nonetheless, supplementing with 1?3 mg per day is important only for people who take zinc supplements, including the zinc found in multiple vitamin/mineral supplements.
Cupric oxide (CuO) is a form of copper frequently used in vitamin-mineral supplements sold over-the-counter. However, animal studies have shown conclusively this form of copper is poorly absorbed from the gut; it should therefore not be used in supplements.5 6 7 8 Several other forms of copper (including copper sulfate, cupric acetate, and alkaline copper carbonate) are better absorbed, and are therefore preferable to cupric oxide.9
Contraindications The level at which copper causes problems is unclear. But in combination with zinc, up to 3 mg per day is considered safe. People drinking tap water from new copper pipes should consult their doctor before supplementing, since they might be getting enough (or even too much) copper from their water. People with Wilson?s disease should never take copper.
Zinc interferes with copper absorption. People taking zinc supplements for more than a few weeks should also take copper (unless they have Wilson?s disease). In the absence of copper supplementation, vitamin C may interfere with copper metabolism. Copper improves absorption and utilization of iron.
Certain medications may interact with copper. Refer to the drug interactions summary for a list of those medications.
References:
1. Jones AA, DiSilvestro RA, Coleman M, Wagner TL. Copper supplementation of adult men: effects on blood copper enzyme activities and indicators of cardiovascular disease risk. Metabolism 1997;46:1380?3.
2. Sandstead HH. Requirements and toxicity of essential trace elements, illustrated by zinc and copper. Am J Clin Nutr 1995;61(suppl):62S?64S.
3. Broun ER. Greist A, Tricot G, Hoffman R. Excessive zinc ingestion. A reversible cause of sideroblastic anemia and bone marrow depression. JAMA 1990;264:1441?3.
4. Jacob RA, Skala JH, Omaye ST, Turnlund JR. Effect of varying ascorbic acid intakes on copper absorption and ceruloplasmin levels of young men. J Nutr 1987;117:2109?15.
5. Aoyogi S, Baker DH. Bioavailability of copper in analytical-grade and feed-grade inorganic copper sources when fed to provide copper at levels below the chicks requirement. Poult Sci 1993;72:1075?83.
6. Baker DH, Odle J, Funk MA, Wieland TM. Bioavailability of copper in cupric oxide, cuprous oxide and in a copper-lysine complex. Poult Sci 1991;70:177?9.
7. Cromwell GL, Stahly TS, Moneque HJ. Effects of source and level of copper on performance and liver copper stores in weanling pigs. J Anim Sci 1989;67:2996?3002.
8. Ledoux DR, Henry PR, Ammerman CB, et al. Estimation of the relative bioavailability of inorganic copper sources for chicks using tissue uptake of copper. J Anim Sci 1991;69:215?22.
9. Baker DH. Cupric oxide should not be used as a copper supplement for either animals or humans. J Nutr 1999;129:2278?9.
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