Copper

Deficiency
A report by Decena, Bryce G.

Copper
Copper is an essential micro mineral that benefit bone, nerve and
immunity.
Copper is the third most prevalent mineral within the body, yet it cannot
be made by the body itself and must obtained through certain foods.
Marginal copper imbalance has been linked to impaired immune
function, bone demineralization, and increased risked of cardiovascular
and neurodegenerative diseases.
Organ meats, shellfish, nuts, seeds, wheat-bran cereals, and whole grain
products are good sources of copper.

Copper Deficiency
Serum copper and ceruloplasmin levels may fall to 30% of
normal in cases of severe copper deficiency.
Copper depletion studies have suggested that reduced copper
availability might affect erythroid and myeloid cell lineage.
High-risk individuals for Cu deficiency include premature infants,
infants with prolonged diarrhea; infants and children recovering
from malnutrition and individuals with malabsorption syndromes.

Mechanism of Cu deficiency
The exact mechanism of coppers action to the development and
maintenance in the immune system function is not yet known.
Recent evidence suggests that copper exacts an important role in
the maintenance of immunocompetence.
Recent mechanistic studies support a role for copper in innate
immune response against bacterial infections.

Signs of Cu deficiency

6 cholesterol
metabolism
7 impaired growth
of
8 abnormalities
glucose
increased incidence of
9 infection

1
neutropenia
2
3 bone
abnormalities
4 hypopigmentation
of phagocytic
5 alterations
capacity of neutrophils
anemia

Mechanism of Cu deficiency
Recent research showed that interleukin-2 is reduced in copper deficiency
and is likely the mechanism by which T-cell proliferative response and
interleukin concentrations are reduced.
Neutrophil-like HL-60 cells accumulate copper as they differentiate into a
more mature cell population and this accumulation is not reflected by
increase in Cu superoxide dismutase or cytochrome-c oxidase activities.
Neutropaenia clinical sign of copper deficiency in humans
A low-copper diet showed a decrease proliferation response of a white blood
cell (WBC), called monocytes, when an immune challenge was presented.

Immune System and Innate

Immunity
It has been reported that Cu may be closely involved with the
function of complement system.
Detailed literatures reported that Cu deficiency causes decrease
in the number of circulating neutrophils, a condition termed
neutropaenia.
Natural killer (NK) cell is also altered in Cu deficiency.

Immune System and Humoral

immunity
The effect of Cu deficiency on the humoral immune system can be
demonstrated by the response of Cu-deficient animals to challenge
with sheep red blood cells.

Immune System and Cellmediated Immunity

It appears that Cu plays an important role in the maturation
sequence of lymphoid tissue.
Cu deficiency leads to an impairment that is manifested by
lymphocyte subpopulation shifts
Decreased responsiveness of splenic MNC to T-cell mitogens is well
documented in the literature of human cell lines and other species.
Progression of the competent T-cell to the S phase of the cell cycle
is impaired in Cu deficiency.

Effect of Copper deficiency

o Copper deficiency decreased humoral and cell-mediated, as well
as non-specific immune function.
o Impairment of immune function may be highly correlated with an
increased incidence of infection and higher mortality rates observed
in copper-deficient animals.

Reference
Stabel, JR & Spears JW. Effect of copper on immune function and
disease resistance. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1989; 258: 243-52. Review.
Pubmed PMID: 2697138
Percival, S. Copper and Immunity. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition. 1998; 67:5. Abstract. Retrieved from
m.ajcn.nutrition.org/content/67/5/1064S
Bonham, M., et al. The immune system as a physiological indicator
of marginal copper status.
https://draxe.com/copper-deficiency/