Copper Nutritional Status Research Articles

Copper biomarkers and their relationship with parameters of insulin resistance in obese women.

Some studies have demonstrated the involvement of high concentrations of copper in the manifestation of insulin resistance in individuals with obesity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the copper nutritional status and its relationship with parameters of glycemic control in women with obesity. An observational case-control clinical study involving 203 women aged between 20 and 50years, divided into two groups: obese (n = 84) and eutrophic (n = 119). Body weight, height and waist, hip and neck circumferences, dietary copper intake, copper biomarkers, determine ceruloplasmin activity and glycemic control parameters were measured. It was observed that women with obesity had higher copper concentrations in plasma and lower concentrations in erythrocytes when compared to the control group. Analysis of glycemic control parameters revealed a statistically significant difference in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05) between groups. The study identified a significant positive correlation between plasma copper and fasting insulin values and the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index (p < 0.05). The results of this study demonstrate that obese women have high copper concentrations in plasma and lower concentrations in erythrocytes. Furthermore, the significant positive correlation between plasma copper and fasting insulin and HOMA-IR index suggests the influence of this mineral on glycemic control parameters in obese women.

Copper (Cu) metabolism in domestic herbivores as guide to criteria for predicting the Cu nutritional status of wild ruminants in southern Africa.

In southern Africa game farming has become an effective way of using underutilised resources and a valuable method of preserving and increasing wildlife numbers. However, little is known about the mineral requirements of wild animal species or the assessment of the mineral nutritional status of these species. To establish criteria for estimating the copper (Cu) nutritional status of wildlife, current knowledge about Cu metabolism and criteria for domestic animals has been used. Since the Cu metabolism of ruminants differs substantially from that of non-ruminants, Cu metabolism in domestic species such as cattle and sheep representing wild ruminants, and pigs and horses as non-ruminant species, has been scrutinised to propose criteria for wild bovids in southern Africa. In the adequate range of dietary Cu intakes, literature suggests that hepatic Cu concentrations in ruminants increase linearly with an increase in Cu intake, allowing a relatively reliable measure of sufficiency. In non-ruminants, hepatic Cu concentrations follow a lag phase during which hepatic Cu concentrations remain relatively constant with increasing dietary Cu intakes of more that 25 times their requirements. A consequence is that non-ruminants can tolerate much higher dietary levels of Cu compared to ruminants. It is proposed that at liver Cu concentrations of < 20 mg/kg dry matter (DM), a wild ruminant could benefit from Cu supplementation; liver Cu concentrations of between 20 and 300 mg Cu/kg DM suggest an adequate Cu intake; concentrations of 300 to 500 mg/kg DM indicate a potentially unhealthy accumulation of Cu, while liver Cu concentrations of > 500 mg/kg DM indicate that the animal probably consumed more Cu than required and might be at risk of developing Cu toxicosis.

Relationship Between Markers of Chronic Inflammation and Copper Nutritional Status in Obese Women.

Adipose tissue dysfunction causes the development of metabolic complications, such as low-grade chronic inflammation, which may to alter copper homeostasis in obese individuals. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between markers of chronic inflammation and copper nutritional status in obese women. Cross-sectional study involved women aged 20-50years, divided into two groups: case (BMI > 35kg/m2) and control (18.5 > BMI > 24.9kg/m2). Plasma and erythrocyte copper concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme in the erythrocytes was determined with an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-10, and IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were determined by using flow cytometer. Serum IL-6 concentrations were 105% higher in the case group compared to eutrophic women. Plasma copper concentrations were 20.5% higher, and erythrocyte copper concentrations were 23.5% lower in patients with obesity. In addition, erythrocyte SOD activity was 20% lower in obese participants when compared to eutrophic women. Our study identified significant negative correlation between the cytokines TNF-α and IL-10 and the SOD activity in the case group, suggesting a possible influence of chronic inflammation on copper distribution in obese individuals.

Erythrocyte zinc and serum copper in male and female adolescents according to puberty stage at different growth phases

Abstract Background Considering that modification in body composition and growth velocity leads to alterations in zinc and copper nutritional status, the purpose of the study was to assess erythrocyte zinc and serum copper in adolescents of both genders, according to the stage of sexual maturity at different growth phases. Methods Two hundred and eighty-six adolescents were assessed, 157 were female, with body mass index Z-score between −2 and +2. Clinical biochemical measurements were assessed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Student’s t, Kruskal-Wallis, and Bonferroni tests were used. Results Median serum copper was superior, and zinc was inferior to respective reference values in all groups. Serum copper presented significant reduction in the final stages of pubertal development in males; in turn, erythrocyte zinc values increased linearly with the evolution of puberty stages in both genders. Comparison between genders in each stage of growth showed significant difference in peak acceleration and in deceleration for erythrocyte zinc and serum copper, with both being higher in females. Conclusions Serum copper is inversely influenced by modifications that occur with the evolution of puberty in males, whereas erythrocyte zinc is directly influenced in both genders, although always with deficient deposition. At peak acceleration and deceleration of growth, there is greater mobilization of erythrocyte zinc and serum copper in males, when compared with females, which does not occur at the onset of the acceleration of growth.

Serum Copper Status in School-Age Children and Pregnant Women in China Nutrition and Health Survey 2010-2012.

Serum copper is an insensitive but reliable biomarker reflecting the change of copper nutritional status in both depleted and replete populations. The current study aimed to establish the reference values of serum copper in school-age children and pregnant women in China and to explore the adequate range of serum copper for both these two categories of people. A multistage, stratified, random sampling combined with probability proportionate to regional size sampling method was employed. A total of 4019 subjects (2736 school-age children and 1283 pregnant women) were selected from China Nutrition and Health Survey 2010-2012 (CNHS 2010-2012). The concentration of serum copper was determined by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). The adequate range of serum copper was determined by the logistic sigmoid saturation curve of the median derivatives. The median concentration of serum copper was 1140.9μg/L with a range of 746.7-1677.6μg/L for school-age children and 1933.4μg/L with a range of 947.4-3391.4μg/L for pregnant women. The adequate range of serum copper was 905.7-1440.7μg/L for school-age children and 1308.8-2537.8μg/L for pregnant women. These parameters represent an essential prerequisite for the assessment of copper nutritional status, as well as nutrition interventions.

Assessment of antioxidants status and superoxide dismutase activity in HIV-infected children

ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the nutritional status of selenium, copper and zinc; and also the erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity of HIV-infected children compared to a control group. MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out with prepubertal HIV-infected children (n=51) and their healthy siblings (n=32). All biochemical measurements including plasma selenium, serum copper levels, serum and erythrocyte zinc levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity were evaluated according to dietary, clinical and biochemical parameters. ResultsCompared to the control group, the HIV-infected children had lower z-score values for height-for-age (p=0.0006), higher prevalence of stunting (11.8%) (p=0.047), lower selenium levels (p=0.0006) and higher copper levels (p=0.019). No difference was found concerning superoxide dismutase activity (p>0.05). The HIV-infected group presented a higher proportion (45.1%) of children with zinc intakes below the estimated average requirement (p=0.014); however, no association with zinc biochemical parameters was found. ConclusionHIV-infected children have an inadequate selenium and copper nutritional status, which could influence the progression to AIDS. An adequate micronutrient status could improve the clinical conditions in these patients and minimize free radical production and cellular oxidative stress.

Effects of Phosphorus Supplies on the Nutritional Status of Maize (Zea mays L.)

The effects of soil phosphorus (P) supplies on the yield and nutritional status of maize and on interactions between individual nutrients was studied in a long-term maize fertilization experiment set up in 1989 on a chernozem meadow soil calcareous in the deeper layers, with four levels each of nitrogen (N), P, and potassium (K) supplies. The present article discusses the P fertilization results obtained in years 12–19 of the experiment, between 2001 and 2008. Depending on the P fertilizer level, the ammonium (NH4)–lactate (AL)–phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) content of the ploughed layer ranged from 120 to 360 mg kg−1. Maximum grain yields were recorded at AL–phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) levels of 160–220 mg. Leaf analysis at the beginning of tasselling indicated that, on the basis of correlation analysis on the maize leaf P concentration and the yield, the limit values for satisfactory P supplies were 0.20–0.37 P% for a yield level of 10–14 t ha−1. In most years the P supply level had an influence on the zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) nutritional status of maize. The P-Zn antagonism that accompanies increasing P supplies was increasingly experienced from a soil AL-P2O5 level of 160 mg kg−1, and P-Cu antagonism from a level of 190 mg kg−1. The leaf Zn concentration required for a yield of 10–14 t ha−1 was 10–32 mg kg−1, with a P/Zn ratio of 80–330, whereas the satisfactory Cu concentration in the present experiments was 2–11 mg kg−1. In most years the satisfactory P/Cu ratio was 250–550, but high yields can still be achieved at a P/Cu ratio of 900–1100. The N, K, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) concentrations of the maize leaf at tasselling were not influenced by the P supplies in the majority of years.

Comparison of global responses to mild deficiency and excess copper levels in Arabidopsis seedlings

Copper is an essential micronutrient in higher plants, but it is toxic in excess. The fine adjustments required to fit copper nutritional demands for optimal growth are illustrated by the diverse, severe symptoms resulting from copper deficiency and excess. Here, a differential transcriptomic analysis was done between Arabidopsis thaliana plants suffering from mild copper deficiency and those with a slight copper excess. The effects on the genes encoding cuproproteins or copper homeostasis factors were included in a CuAt database, which was organised to collect additional information and connections to other databases. The categories overrepresented under copper deficiency and copper excess conditions are discussed. Different members of the categories overrepresented under copper deficiency conditions were both dependent and independent of the general copper deficiency transcriptional regulator SPL7. The putative regulatory elements in the promoter of the copper deficiency overrepresented genes, particularly of the iron superoxide dismutase gene FSD1, were also analysed. A 65 base pair promoter fragment, with at least three GTAC sequences, was found to be not only characteristic of them all, but was responsible for most of the FSD1 copper-dependent regulations. Moreover, a new molecular marker for the slight excess copper nutritional status is proposed. Taken together, these data further contribute to characterise copper nutritional responses in higher plants.

Alopecia en mujeres con obesidad severa y mórbida sometidas a cirugía bariátrica

Introduction: Bariatric surgery leads to a significant body weigh reduction although it is associated to a higher risk of presenting some nutritional deficiencies. A com- mon complication, little studied and mainly related to zinc deficiency is alopecia. Objectives: To compare the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, selenium and protein-visceral in women with different degrees of hair loss at 6 months after gas- tric bypass or tubular gastrectomy. Methods: The patients were categorized into two groups according to the degree of hair loss: group 1 or mild loss (n = 42) and group 2 or severe hair loss (n = 45). Zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, as well as the indicators of the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, and protein- visceral were assessed before and after 6 months of the surgery. Results: In both groups there was a significant body weight reduction at 6 months post-surgery (-38.9% ± 16.4%). Patients in group 1 presented a significantly higher intake of zinc (20.6 ± 8.1 vs. 17.1 ± 7.7 mg/d) and iron (39.7 ± 35.9 vs. 23.8 ± 21.3 mg/d.), and lower compro- mise in the nutritional status of zinc and iron than group 2. However, patients in group 2 had lower compromise in the nutritional status of copper. There were no differ- ences regarding the plasma concentrations of albumin. Conclusions: The patients having lower hair loss at six months after surgery had higher zinc and iron intake and lower compromise of the nutritional status of both minerals. (Nutr Hosp. 2011;26:856-862) Resumen Introduccion: La cirugia bariatrica produce una reduccion de peso significativa, pero se asocia a un mayor riesgo de presentar algunas deficiencias nutricionales. Una complicacion frecuente, poco estudiada, que se ha relacionado principalmente con deficiencia de zinc, es la alopecia. Objetivos: comparar el estado nutricional de zinc, hie- rro, cobre, selenio y proteico-visceral en mujeres con dis- tinto grado de caida del pelo al sexto mes post bypass gas- trico o gastrectomia tubular.

Alopecia in women with severe and morbid obesity who undergo bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery leads to a significant body weigh reduction although it is associated to a higher risk of presenting some nutritional deficiencies. A common complication, little studied and mainly related to zinc deficiency is alopecia. To compare the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, selenium and protein-visceral in women with different degrees of hair loss at 6 months after gastric bypass or tubular gastrectomy. The patients were categorized into two groups according to the degree of hair loss: group 1 or mild loss (n = 42) and group 2 or severe hair loss (n = 45). Zinc, iron, copper, and selenium, as well as the indicators of the nutritional status of zinc, iron, copper, and proteinvisceral were assessed before and after 6 months of the surgery. In both groups there was a significant body weight reduction at 6 months post-surgery (-38.9% ± 16.4%). Patients in group 1 presented a significantly higher intake of zinc (20.6 ± 8.1 vs. 17.1 ± 7.7 mg/d) and iron (39.7 ± 35.9 vs. 23.8 ± 21.3 mg/d.), and lower compromise in the nutritional status of zinc and iron than group 2. However, patients in group 2 had lower compromise in the nutritional status of copper. There were no differences regarding the plasma concentrations of albumin. The patients having lower hair loss at six months after surgery had higher zinc and iron intake and lower compromise of the nutritional status of both minerals.

Iron, Zinc, and Copper Nutritional Status in Children Infected With Helicobacter pylori

: Helicobacter pylori colonizes the gastric mucosa of about half of the world's population and it has been related to extragastrointestinal diseases. The present study sought to evaluate the association between H pylori infection and iron, zinc, and copper nutritional status in symptomatic children. : A cross-sectional study was carried out in 395 children (4-16 years) with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, who were tested for H pylori infection by the C-urea breath test. Iron status was determined by hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptors. Copper and zinc serum concentrations were also evaluated. Epidemiological data, dietary assessment, and anthropometric indicators were analyzed as potential confounding factors. : Prevalence of H pylori infection was 24.3%. Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) were found in 12.0% and 14.3% of the H pylori-positive and 8.9% and 11.0% of the H pylori-negative children, respectively. There was no association between H pylori infection and anemia (odds ratio = 1.54 [95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73%-3.24%]) or ID (odds ratio = 1.35 [95% CI 0.67-2.70]). Crude beta coefficients showed that H pylori has no significant effect on hemoglobin, serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptors, copper, and zinc concentrations. However, adjusted results suggested that H pylori-infected children had an increase of 9.74 microg/dL (95% CI 2.12-17.37 microg/dL) in copper concentrations. : This study revealed that H pylori infection was not associated with iron deficiency, anemia, or zinc concentrations; however, a positive relation with copper status was found after adjusting for confounding factors. The contribution of H pylori infection to higher copper concentrations needs to be confirmed by additional studies.

Copper Deficiency, Lead, and Paraoxonase

Li et al. (2006) measured paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in workers and found an inverse association between lead exposure and enzyme activity. This observation compliments some epidemiology and related experiments with animals, because low paraoxonase activity is associated with diabetes mellitus, familial hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, and metabolic syndrome (Klevay 2004). Paraoxonase, although studied most extensively because of its ability to detoxify organophosphate insecticides (James 2006; van Himbergen et al. 2006), has drawn increasing attention because it hydrolyzes homocysteine thiolactone, a vascular toxin that inhibits copper enzymes (Klevay 2006). Lead intoxication has many manifestations (Fischbein 1998), lesser-known of which is induction of copper deficiency (Klauder and Petering 1977). Rats deficient in copper have an approximately 28% decrease in paraoxonase activity (Klevay 2004). These observations are consonant with the decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) associated with occupational exposure to lead (Ito et al. 1985) because this enzyme also depends on adequate copper nutriture for activity (Linder and Goode 1980; Owen 1981). Thus, SOD is an index of copper nutriture in humans (Uauy et al. 1985). Li et al. (2006) stated that “the mechanism by which heavy metals inhibit serum PON1 activity is still not clear.” It seems likely that lead interferes with copper utilization in the workers, leading to low copper nutritional status (Li et al. 2006). Low copper status has been related to a large variety of adverse cardiovascular phenomena in both animals and people; in this context, the most important are hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and impaired oxidative defense (Klevay 2000, 2002). Are there unpublished copper data on the workers, or can they be reexamined to test this copper hypothesis? Plasma copper and ceruloplasmin are not likely to be useful because they are increased by inflammation (Pepys 1996) and may be falsely high. Extracellular SOD may be helpful because it is sensitive to low copper status (Johnson et al. 2005), and low values have been associated with atherosclerosis in humans (Landmesser et al. 2000; Wang et al. 1998).

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron, copper and zinc nutritional status in children

Relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and iron, copper and zinc nutritional status in children

Trace elements status in children with bronchial asthma

Zinc, copper and magnesium are important elements in the preservation of immune resistance. Zinc and copper are both required for numerous biochemical functions and for optimal activity of the immune system. They are also involved in cell and tissue growth. We aimed to define the relation between bronchial asthma and serum levels of these three trace elements. Zinc levels were significantly decreased in comparison to the control values (p<0.01). On the other hand, Copper and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly higher in comparison to the control values (p<0.01). Our study was showed relatively low blood levels of zinc in subject with asthma. Chronic inflammation causes a characteristic decline in serum zinc levels in experimental studies. It is well known that zinc deficiency affects the regulation of T-cell lymphocytes, which may play some part in the development of allergies. These findings suggest a different zinc and copper nutritional status between asthmatic and healthy subjects. Asthmatic children, in particular, seem to be at a risk of zinc deficiency. The changes in trace element status may be the effect of chronic disease state and do not associate with the cause of disease.

Copper intake and assessment of copper status

The diagnosis of marginal copper deficiency has not been perfected despite an increased understanding of the physiologic roles of copper. The use of nonstandardized procedures and the effects of factors other than copper nutriture have impeded identification of an ideal indicator of copper nutritional status in humans. A review of studies of experimental copper deprivation conducted in adult humans over the past 12 y indicated that between 1.0 and 1.25 mg Cu/d is needed by adults for copper maintenance for periods of up to 6 mo and that < or = 2.6 mg Cu/d for periods of up to 42 d is not sufficient for recovery from copper deprivation. Copper-containing enzymes in blood cells, such as erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and platelet cytochrome-c oxidase, may be better indicators of metabolically active copper and copper stores than plasma concentrations of copper or ceruloplasmin because the enzyme activities are sensitive to changes in copper stores and are not as sensitive to factors not related to copper nutriture.

Plasma diamine oxidase activities in renal dialysis patients, a human with spontaneous copper deficiency and marginally copper deficient rats.

Intestine and kidney are generally the most concentrated sources of the copper metalloenzyme diamine oxidase (DAO). Clinically, plasma DAO activities are used to diagnose disruptions in intestinal integrity. This study determined whether DAO activities were also affected by kidney injury or copper nutritional status. Plasma DAO activities were measured in renal dialysis patients without diagnosed intestinal disease (n = 75), controls (n = 23), an adult with spontaneous copper deficiency before and after copper repletions, and in rats fed either adequate or marginal copper diets (8 or 2 mg copper/kg diet) for 7 months. This study found high DAO activities in renal dialysis patients and low activities during spontaneous copper deficiency. Low activities were also seen for marginally copper deficient rats. Tissue injury-induced elevation of DAO activities is not limited to intestinal injury, and low DAO values may be useful for assessing copper nutritional status.

Copper deficiency: interaction with high-fructose and high-fat diets in rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a high fat intake would potentiate an excess of fructose in the diet of rats to alter energy metabolism and worsen the nutritional status for copper. Weanling male rats were fed diets with 45% fat and 20% cornstarch, 45% fat and 20% fructose, 5% fat and 60% cornstarch, or 5% fat and 60% fructose for 3 wk, with either sufficient (+) or deficient (-) amounts of copper. Copper deficiency, as demonstrated by low plasma copper and ceruloplasmin, caused a decrease of liver, heart, and testes copper; a decline of liver and heart zinc; and an increase of hepatic iron. High-fat diets reduced liver glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and, to a lesser extent, glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). The interaction between high-fat and high-fructose diets, superimposed on copper deficiency, resulted in a lowering of G6PDH, GPDH, and malic enzyme. These results support the hypothesis that a high fat ingestion becomes an aggravating stress factor, which, in combination with a high-fructose intake in a copper-deficient diet, adversely alters key organ mineral content, with detrimental effects on copper nutritional status and intermediary metabolism.

Assessment of copper nutritional status

Despite increased interest in the role of copper deficiency in clinical problems and an increased understanding of the physiological roles of copper, the diagnosis of a marginal deficiency has not been perfected. The use of non-standardized procedures and the effects of factors other than copper nutriture have impeded identification of the "ideal" indicator of copper nutritional status in adult humans. The specific activity of copper enzymes, or of copper-containing enzymes in blood cells, such as erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and platelet or leukocyte cytochrome c oxidase, may be a better indicator of metabolically active copper stores than the serum concentration of copper or ceruloplasmin, because the enzyme activities are sensitive to changes in copper stores and are not as sensitive to factors not related to copper nutriture. A single index, such as serum copper concentration, is inadequate for assessing the total body copper nutriture of an individual and must be supported by corroborating evidence.

Development of an ELISA for estimation of the copper nutritional status of wheat and cotton

Studies were carried out with hydroponically grown wheat and cotton to develop the Cu-requiring protein phenolase as a biomarker of Cu nutrient status. Isozymes of phenolase whose levels were reduced by Cu deficiency were identified by Western blots. A competitive enzyme-linked, immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed that could detect as little as 25 ng of phenolase. The ELISA revealed that Cu-sufficient cotton leaves had about 4-fold more phenolase antigen than did Cu-sufficient wheat leaves. In both species, the level of phenolase was reduced by 2- to 5-fold in leaves of Cu-deficient plants. Because the immunoassay for phenolase protein is rapid, inexpensive, and can be carried out with small amounts of leaf material, it has potential as a tool for assessment of the Cu status of crop plants.

Assessment of copper status: effect of age and gender on reference ranges in healthy adults

We measured major indices related to copper nutritional status in 55 men and 86 women between ages 20 and 83 years who were in apparent good health. Plasma copper concentrations and both immunoreactive and enzymatically measured ceruloplasmin were significantly higher in women than in men and were higher in women taking oral contraceptives. Plasma copper, immunoreactive ceruloplasmin, and cytochrome-c oxidase in platelets and mononucleated leukocytes tended to increase with age. The ratio of enzymatic to immunoreactive ceruloplasmin, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, and 67Cu uptake by erythrocytes were not significantly affected by either age or gender. Thus, factors other than copper nutriture--such as age, gender, and hormone use--need to be considered when using many of these indicators to evaluate copper nutritional status.