Pure copper is a soft and malleable metal with a reddish-orange colour. Other properties includes corrosion resistance and anti-bacterial. It combines easily with other metals to make alloys. It is also an excellent thermal and electrical conductor. Copper is essential to all living organisms as a trace dietary mineral because it is a key constituent of the respiratory enzymes.
Function of copper in the human body
Copper is a key component in numerous enzymes production. It is essential for iron transport, production of norepinephrine, neurotransmitters, formation of collagen and elastin to name only a few.
It has been long known that copper deficiency causes anaemia[1] and has neurological associations such as peripheral neuropathy[2], motor neuron disease,cerebral demyelination and other cognitive dysfunction[3][4]. It is estimated that over 20 million people in the United States has some form of peripheral neuropathy and the world wide incidence rate is approximately 1.7 cases in 100 000 people.
Copper Deficiency
| Signs | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Paleness | Fatigue |
| Skin sores | Slow tissue healing |
| Dermatitis | Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet |
| Laboured respiration | Muscule weakness |
| Swayback | Poor nerve conductivity |
| Hair loss | Anorexia |
| Oedema |
References
- Fong T, Vij R, Vijayan A, DiPersio J, Blinder M. (2007). Copper deficiency: an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. Haematologica 92(10):1429-30
- Pineles, S. L., Wilson, C. A., Balcer, L. J., Slater, R., & Galetta, S. L. (2010). Combined Optic Neuropathy and Myelopathy Secondary to Copper Deficiency Survey of Ophthalmology, 55(4), 386-392.
- Jaiser, S. R., & Winston, G. P. (2010). Copper deficiency myelopathy. Journal of Neurology, 257(6), 869-881.
- Fong T, Vij R, Vijayan A, DiPersio J, Blinder M. (2007). Copper deficiency: an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. Haematologica 92(10):1429-30.