What medicine should I take for copper deficiency?

Calcium, iron, zinc, selenium and vitamins. If any one of them is missing, our body will feel uncomfortable and our mental state will be greatly affected. To maintain the effective functioning of the human body, these substances can be said to be sources of energy. When energy is insufficient, we must of course supplement it. Copper is an important substance in our biological system, and its catalytic effect is unparalleled. What medicine can I take to supplement copper if my body is deficient in copper?

The human body contains 100-200 mg of copper, which is widely distributed in tissues and organs throughout the body. Copper is involved in the hematopoietic process and is an effective assistant to iron. It can affect the absorption, transportation and utilization of iron. Copper is also a unique catalyst in biological systems, participating in the synthesis of ascorbic acid oxidase, tyrosinase, uricase and galactosidase. It is also the active ingredient of more than 30 enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and monoamine oxidase. In addition, copper also has the function of enhancing the ability of white blood cells to eliminate bacteria and regulating endocrine glands.

Long-term copper deficiency in the human body will hinder various physiological activities and easily produce various pathological changes. The most obvious one is that it can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid, which can easily lead to coronary atherosclerosis and the formation of coronary heart disease. It can also cause anemia, copper deficiency syndrome in children, vitiligo and other diseases. According to a recent survey in the United States, two-thirds of Americans suffer from symptoms of heart disease due to insufficient copper intake. Over the past 30 years, the copper content of per capita human consumption in the United States has dropped significantly, while the incidence of heart disease has increased by 44% during the same period. According to data from the World Health Organization, heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, while the French are the second-to-last cause of death. The low death rate from heart disease among the French is related to their love of eating the liver and kidneys of poultry and livestock (especially geese and ducks). The liver and kidneys are reservoirs of copper in the diet of poultry and livestock, so the copper content in the food consumed by the French is relatively high, which shows the importance of copper in protecting the heart.

Unlike iron, the human body has no storage mechanism for copper, so a certain amount of copper must be taken from food every day to make up for the copper excreted in bile. The copper content in cow's milk is low, only 0.02 mg/100 g, which is why infants and children who drink cow's milk are prone to copper deficiency. Experts recommend adding pollen to cow's milk in appropriate amounts as a way to supplement copper for infants and children.

Food sources of copper

Rich sources: black pepper, Brazil nuts, liver and raw oysters.

Good sources: lobster, nuts, seeds, olives (green), soy flour, wheat bran.

Common sources: bananas, beans, beef, bread, butter, cheese, coconut, dried fruit, eggs, fish, green vegetables, lamb, peanut butter, pork, poultry, carrots.

Trace sources: animal fats, vegetable oils, milk, most dairy products (ice cream, cottage cheese), other fruits and vegetables, and sugar.

Supplementary sources: alfalfa leaf meal, brewer's yeast, copper carbonate and copper sulfate.

The role of trace copper in the human body

Copper is an important component of proteins and enzymes in the body, such as ceruloplasmin, cytochrome, C oxidase, etc. Many key enzymes require the participation and activation of steel to affect the body's metabolic processes and promote many functions of the human body. This is the main reason why such a small amount of copper plays a vital role in life. For example: it helps provide the energy needed for the body's biochemical processes; helps form hemoglobin in the blood and affects the formation of skin pigmentation; promotes the formation of cross-links in collagen and elastin, maintains and restores connective tissue; participates in the metabolism of glucose and cholesterol; affects the development of hair, skin, bones, brain, and the functions of the heart, liver, central nervous system and immune system.

In addition, certain copper-containing medicines have anti-inflammatory and arthritis-treating effects and have been used in some countries. People have long experienced that wearing copper bracelets can help treat arthritis. This may be the result of trace amounts of steel dissolved in sweat being absorbed through the skin. Copper is also being studied for its use in radiology and in the treatment of spasticity, epilepsy, and gout.