Why you need Copper and why you dont need it !! confusing
Read this and take is seriously Copper is in every house and building in Australia
in My othet life as a licenced plumber I was never ever told about the dangers of metals and metal toxicity it is a threat to everyone eventually please take it seriously
working with lead ,copper,heavy metals there was nothing in the corriculum that told about the dangers of dealing with these products
I have been a Naturopath for 42 years coming up and also chronically ill at times in the early days click on this site now and read all about it
COPPER TOXICITY Copper is essential for good health and is required for several physiological functions such as the production of neurotransmitters (Dopamine, noradrenaline), the enzyme cytochrome C oxidase (breaks down Vit C), for lactase activity (lactose digestion) and for elastin and collagen production, to name a few. Therefore sufficient amounts of copper are necessary for good health however real problems can occur when levels become excessive. Copper toxicity appears to be far more common than copper deficiencies and can be just as devastating to your health as heavy metals such as mercury and lead can be. Unfortunately for many copper toxicity is largely being ignored by the mainstream medical profession. The main problems related to copper toxicity include:
(1) Hormone Imbalances – blocks T4 production and conversion into T3, by blocking iron it also inhibits steroid hormone pathway resulting with low hormone levels.
(2) Fatigue – by blocking iron absorption, storage and its effects in the mitochondria, also blocks magnesium, and disrupts hormone production thus reducing metabolism.
(3) Anxiety – it increases adrenaline and noradrenaline.
(4) Joint Pains
(5) Poor Immunity – viral, fungal and yeast infections
(6) Poor sleep – it blocks melatonin production
(7) Hypoglycemia – by impairing digestion effects sugar absorption, also increases insulin.
(8) Cancer – it is involved in angiogenesis which promotes cancer growth.
(9) Low Histamine – copper-containing enzymes, histaminase and ceruloplasmin, regulate histamine. Elevated copper increases the levels of these enzymes, promoting histamine breakdown. The low histamine levels, allow copper to continue to rise. Histamine is an essential protein metabolite (a product of metabolism) found in all body tissues. In the brain, it acts as a neurotransmitter. Many of the above can be explained by coppers ability to interfere with zinc, magnesium, iron, Vitamin C, folic acid, Vit B1 and Vit E and decreased histamine production. When the action of these nutrients is blocked many physiological processes are unable to function correctly resulting with the following: arthritis, fatigue, adrenal burnout, insomnia, scoliosis, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, migraine headaches, seizures, fungal and bacterial infections including yeast infection, gum disease, tooth decay, skin and hair problems and female organ conditions including uterine fibroids, endometriosis and others. Mental and emotional disorders related to copper imbalance include spaciness, depression, vertigo, mood swings, fears, anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, violence, autism, schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder.
Copper ingestion and absorption is very easy and is inhibited by zinc and molybdenum. The presence of estrogens and xenoestrogens seems to block the body’s ability to excrete copper. Therefore if you are low in zinc and molybdenum and are exposed to estrogens/xenoestrogens or estrogen dominant it could potentially lead to copper overload because of copper retention. The metallothionine protein responsible for the removal of copper from the body may also be affected thus also causing copper accumulation. SOURCES OF COPPER
Sources of copper include: chocolate, bee pollen, buckwheat, oats, wheat bran, butter, eggs, apples, apricot kernels, bananas, olives, oranges, peaches, prunes, rasins, mushrooms, chickweed, soya beans, chicken, nuts, crab, lobster, salmon, kelp, avocado, beetroot, tomato puree and grapes to name a few.
Today, many children are born with excessive tissue copper. It is passed from high-copper mothers to their children through the placenta which may result in conditions such as ADD/ADHD.
Stress from any cause contributes to copper imbalance. Stress depletes the adrenal glands and lowers the zinc level in the body. Whenever zinc becomes deficient, copper tends to accumulate.
Another source of copper is drinking water that remained in copper water pipes, or copper added to your water supply.
Other sources of copper are copper cookware, dental materials, vitamin pills, fungicides and pesticides residues on food, copper intra-uterine devices and birth control pills. Deficiencies of manganese, iron, B-vitamins and vitamin C can cause copper to accumulate. Adrenal hormones cause the liver to produce ceruloplasmin, the main copper binding protein in the body. Therefore, a sluggish liver or weak adrenal glands may cause copper to build up in the tissues. DETECTING COPPER IMBALANCE
Blood, urine and hair analysis may all be used to detect copper toxicity. Challenge tests with a chelating agent such as EDTA should be used to detect excess copper levels in blood and urine analysis however, they may still not be totally accurate as copper is stored mainly in the brain, liver and other organs, and not in the blood or urine. A liver biopsy may also be performed but this is very invasive and unnecessary.
Hair analysis is considered by many as the most accurate means to detect excessive copper. Copper is stored in other parts of the body for some time before it starts to be excreted into hair follicles. When this overflow occurs into hair tissue is where it will be detected in hair analysis. If hidden copper overload is present, that is high copper levels in other tissues but not yet in the hair, it is not as obvious as overtly excessive levels however is clinically significant and should be treated exactly the same. Signs of hidden copper overload include: Zinc:Copper ratio less than 6:1, mercury greater than 0.4, sodium:potassium ratio less than 2.5:1, copper:molybdenum ratio greater than 625:1, Molybdenum less than 0.003. Reducing Excessive Copper
A comprehensive approach should be used to reduce copper levels.
The first step is to reduce copper intake by limiting foods with a high copper:zinc ratio such as chocolate, crab, nuts, bakers yeast, mushrooms, avocado, grapes, bran flakes. In addition avoid any source of copper exposure such as water from copper plumbing, swimming pool treatments, vitamins, etc, all mentioned above.
Use copper antagonists such as zinc, manganese and iron to compete with copper for absorption and utilization. Other antagonists include vitamins B6, folic acid and selenium. Research indicates copper is eliminated by binding with a protein called metallothionine which requires certain nutrients for its activity. By providing all the necessary nutrients for this protein to function correctly will help reduce copper levels. This nutrient combination is known as a Metallothionine (MT) Primer. A MT primer should contain all the necessary nutrients required to reduce copper levels by supplying the nutrients for the MT protein to function normally. MT Primer capsules are available over the counter from our lab. To order you must register for an online consultation which is free. Our MT Primer can also be made manganese free for those who also suffer from High Histamine (under methyltors) where manganese is contraindicated. Alternatively the mineral molybdenum may be used to chelate excess copper from the body. The usual dose is 300mcg daily. These also are available over the counter from our lab. To order you must register for an online consultation which is free.
.https://metabolichealing.com/copper-toxicity-major-epidemic/
Copper toxicity is a central factor in many of today’s modern disease epidemics including: cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, OCD, ADD, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease. Copper toxicity is even a major player in women’s health issues such as estrogen dominance, candida overgrowth, and PMS. While copper toxicity is a major cause for concern, it is something that can be effectively dealt with by powerful nutritional therapies.
Copper: What You Don’t Know May Be Making You Very SickBefore I get into the many problems associated with copper toxicity, lets talk about what copper does in the body. Copper is an essential trace element and it has many important roles in the body. These include:
In addition to its role as a major copper-carrying protein, ceruloplasmin is also essential in iron metabolism. Ceruloplasmin is a protein encoded by the CP gene. A deficiency of ceruloplasmin is known as aceruloplasminemia, and this issue crops up quite a bit with copper toxicity-related conditions. Another copper-iron protein known as hephaestin is believed to mediate copper transport as well.
A deficiency of ceruloplasmin is strongly associated with copper toxicity. If left free and unbound, copper becomes a powerful free radical, resulting in oxidative stress, cell and tissue destruction, neurological degeneration, and a list of health-related issues.
Copper Toxicity’s Neurological Effects: Alzheimer’s, OCD, Schizophrenia, Huntington’s, Pyroluria, Parkinson’s, Wilson’sAmong its many harmful effects, copper toxicity is associated with numerous neurological inflammatory conditions.
Copper Toxicity & Alzheimer’sAn important study in the quest towards understanding Alzheimer’s Disease was published in 2013. Researchers from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that copper toxicity plays an important role in Alzheimer’s disease development:
“It is clear that, over time, copper’s cumulative effect is to impair the systems by which amyloid beta is removed from the brain (-Rashid Deane, Ph.D).”
The study also found that the cumulative effect of copper caused a degeneration of the blood brain barrier in the lab mice used in the study.
The blood-brain barrier is a key mechanism that prevents harmful toxins from entering the brain. The major antioxidant defenders in the blood-brain barrier are glutathione and metallothionein. Both of these powerful free radical scavenging antioxidants are capable of capturing free, toxic copper.
While studies have directly linked copper toxicity to Alzheimer’s brain degeneration, it is significant to address that glutathione and metallothionein expression have both been found decreased in those with Alzheimer’s. Without these essential metal-capturing antioxidants, copper (and other metals like mercury) will accumulate in brain and neuronal tissues.
Copper Toxicity: OCD & SchizophreniaCopper toxicity and deranged ceruloplasmin metabolism are strongly implicated in neurological and psychiatric conditions such as OCD and schizophrenia. A 2008 study found a direct association between elevated ceruloplasmin and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) (6). Unfortunately, the study did not look at concomitant serum copper values, which would have established the probable cause of elevated ceruloplasmin, i.e. high copper causing an increased production of the copper-carrying protein ceruloplasmin.
For several decades, copper toxicity has been studied in direct relationship to schizophrenia. Rather than lumping schizophrenia into one clinical condition, research scientist William Walsh, PhD has asserted that schizophrenics are of varying types. Based upon his research of schizophrenics (which includes an enormous database of testing results), copper toxicity is one primary etiology (1).
A likely mechanism behind copper’s psychological and neurological effects is its induction of dopaminergic activity. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is often referred to as the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter. However, dopamine is converted into the excitatory neurotransmitter norepinephrine, and copper is a major co-factor for this conversion.
Research has found that norepinephrine levels are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (2), as well as in certain regions of the brain (3) among paranoid schizophrenics.
Norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) induces “fight or flight” stress responses, excitatory physiological responses (such as elevated heart rate) and greatly impacts large parts of the brain responsible for thinking, arousal, alertness, decision making and emotional responses. Elevated norepinephrine caused by copper toxicity may be a major culprit in attention deficit disorder (ADD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia, as well as other behavioral-related issues.
Copper Toxicity: Huntington’s, Parkinson’s & Wilson’sA genetic condition known as Huntington’s Disease induces a characteristic neurological degeneration as well as involuntary muscular jerks known as chorea. Similar involuntary movements are also characteristic of Parkinson’s Disease as well. A common feature among both of these conditions features copper toxicity.
A fascinating study published in 2013 from John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine found that Huntington’s disease features dramatic increases in copper protein activities. Additionally, copper depletion therapy dramatically reduces Huntington’s gene expression:
“Copper reduction dramatically decreases the level of toxic huntingtin levels. Strikingly, substitution of two potential copper-binding residues of huntingtin completely dissociates the copper-intensifying toxicity of huntingtin” (7).
Parkinson’s Disease features neurodegeneration, impaired motor function and dopamine neuronal damage. α-synuclein is a key protein that is expressed, and aggregates in the central nervous system among those with Parkinson’s. The Neuronal damage caused by α-synuclein is accelerated by numerous toxic metals, and the existing literature demonstrates that copper increases α-synuclein aggregation more than any other metal (10), (11).
Wilson’s Disease is a condition that involves toxic copper accumulation due to genetic mutations of the ATP7B copper transport gene. As a result, copper cannot effectively bind to ceruloplasmin (the copper-carrying protein that transports 95% of total copper in the body). Wilson’s induces numerous types of movement-deranged symptoms, similar to those of Parkinson’s. If left untreated, Wilson’s disease can result in severe liver damage known as hepatic cirrhosis, as well as damage to the basal ganglia of the brain.
Research has shown that oral copper depletion therapy is highly effective at restoring health among those with Wilson’s (12).
Copper Toxicity: PyroluriaPyroluria is a condition that has also been known as KPU, kryptopyroluria and Hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one and HPL. Pyrlouria was first identified by Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD several decades ago. Pyroluria is often found among those with neurological inflammation and symptoms such as: behavior disorders, schizophrenia, Lyme disease and OCD.
Pyroluria appears to be genetic, and in some instances is induced by severe levels of oxidative stress. Pyroluria causes an over-production of pyrroles, and as such causes rapid depletion of Vitamin B-6 and zinc levels. As zinc values are depleted, copper levels accumulate. This is likely due to the fact that copper and zinc are antagonists, and zinc is essential for the formation of metallothionein, a protein/antioxidant that binds to free copper ions.
Copper Toxicity & CancerDating back to the 1930’s, medical pioneer Emanuel Revici, MD found highly abnormal copper values among those with cancer. Specifically, Dr. Revici found that cancer often featured elevated serum copper, but low levels of intracellular copper (16).
Deranged copper metabolism has been found among various types of cancer such as: breast, brain, ovarian, bladder, gastric, lung, prostate and colon (17). One of the core causes between copper and cancer is due to copper’s role in angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a key characteristic in cancer formation and metastasis, linking cancer tissue to the host’s blood supply. Highly vascularized tumors require copper as a core nutrient for tumor growth. Additional research supports the hypothesis that copper is also essential for cancer cell migration, which results in eventual metastasis.
Recent literature has found that the copper-depletion drug Tetrathiomolybdate significantly reduced the recurrence of breast cancer among women with a high risk relapse (18). In 2007, the same copper-depleting drug was studied in squamous cell carcinoma, where it was found highly effective at preventing cancer formation to the head and neck.
Another depleting drug D-penicillamine, has shown to be cytotoxic to leukemia and breast cancer cells (19).
The evidence suggests that copper toxicity and deranged copper metabolism is characteristic among numerous types of cancer, and that copper depletion appears to be highly beneficial for preventing cancer growth and metastasis.
Copper Toxicity: Contraceptives & PMS (Premenstrual Disorders)The use of all types of birth control medications raise serum copper levels (21). This includes both estrogen and progesterone-based contraceptives. While it is known that certain estrogens possess carcinogenic and genotoxic activities, research has found that copper increases estrogen’s genotoxic effects (22).
Women taking oral contraceptives may be copper toxic, and this will negatively impact their zinc status, due to the antagonistic role of zinc and copper. Studies have also found that the use of oral contraceptives cause Vitamin B-6 deficiency.
Studies have found direct correlations between PMS (premenstrual syndrome), low zinc and high copper. This imbalance is specifically expressive during the luteal phase of the cycle (23) (24), when PMS symptoms occur.
Copper Toxicity & Candida AlbicansCandida overgrowth is a very common, proliferative symptom. Candida is a yeast that exists in small amounts in the intestines. When conditions are ripe, candida can proliferate, where it disrupts the intestinal flora balance, increases GI toxicity, as well as causes secondary symptoms that may be related to: skin outbreaks and itchy rashes, brain fog, and systemic toxicity.
Research has found that candida requires copper for its proliferation (25). Often times, the trace mineral molybdenum is given to increase the detoxification of the acetaldehydes that are produced by candida species. Curiously, molybdenum is a powerful copper antagonist.
Copper Toxicity: The CausesBased upon all of the existing data, research and literature, there can be multiple causes of copper toxicity.
Testing copper should always involve testing zinc status as well, because of the close, antagonistic relationship between zinc and copper. Additionally, I have found that the concomitant testing of hair zinc and copper, with serum/plasma zinc and copper is highly beneficial. This is because the hair shows one pathway of excretion of these minerals over 3-4 months. Whereas the serum and plasma values are reflective of day to day activities, and exist in circulation. So both the hair and blood tests together are ideal.
If someone is dealing with a known copper toxicity, a known or suspected copper toxicity-based genetic condition, then the regular testing of ceruloplasmin (the primary copper-carrying protein) with hair and blood zinc/copper tests is extremely warranted.
Each of these tests are relatively inexpensive, and yet can provide tremendous data regarding copper toxicity and zinc deficiencies. Please contact us to learn more about Copper Toxicity Self Screening tests.
Nutritional Solutions For Copper ToxicityThere are no “one size fits all” approaches. So therefore it is best to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner when dealing with copper toxicity. The following nutrients can be classified as very important in terms of copper toxicity.
Primary Copper Antagonistic NutrientsWhat is essential to first understand is that taking high doses of any one nutrient isolate has the capability of altering other important nutrients in the body. This is because all nutrients exist in relationship. Some of these relationships are closer among certain nutrients. It is important to understand that if one has copper toxicity, taking too many copper antagonists can actually result in a copper deficiency. This may be a very bad idea in some cases. Again, I need to emphasize the importance of consulting with an experienced practitioner in these regards.
The following nutrients are primarily used to antagonize copper:
Copper toxicity is a central factor in many of today’s modern disease epidemics including: cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, schizophrenia, OCD, ADD, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease. Copper toxicity is even a major player in women’s health issues such as estrogen dominance, candida overgrowth, and PMS. While copper toxicity is a major cause for concern, it is something that can be effectively dealt with by powerful nutritional therapies.
Copper: What You Don’t Know May Be Making You Very SickBefore I get into the many problems associated with copper toxicity, lets talk about what copper does in the body. Copper is an essential trace element and it has many important roles in the body. These include:
- Connective tissue formation
- Nerve conduction
- ATP synthesis
- Iron metabolism
- Brain health via neurotransmitter synthesis
- Gene transcription
- Synthesis of the antioxidant superoxide dismutase
- Skin pigmentation
- Nerve tissue: myelin sheath formation
- Blood vessel formation
In addition to its role as a major copper-carrying protein, ceruloplasmin is also essential in iron metabolism. Ceruloplasmin is a protein encoded by the CP gene. A deficiency of ceruloplasmin is known as aceruloplasminemia, and this issue crops up quite a bit with copper toxicity-related conditions. Another copper-iron protein known as hephaestin is believed to mediate copper transport as well.
A deficiency of ceruloplasmin is strongly associated with copper toxicity. If left free and unbound, copper becomes a powerful free radical, resulting in oxidative stress, cell and tissue destruction, neurological degeneration, and a list of health-related issues.
Copper Toxicity’s Neurological Effects: Alzheimer’s, OCD, Schizophrenia, Huntington’s, Pyroluria, Parkinson’s, Wilson’sAmong its many harmful effects, copper toxicity is associated with numerous neurological inflammatory conditions.
Copper Toxicity & Alzheimer’sAn important study in the quest towards understanding Alzheimer’s Disease was published in 2013. Researchers from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that copper toxicity plays an important role in Alzheimer’s disease development:
“It is clear that, over time, copper’s cumulative effect is to impair the systems by which amyloid beta is removed from the brain (-Rashid Deane, Ph.D).”
The study also found that the cumulative effect of copper caused a degeneration of the blood brain barrier in the lab mice used in the study.
The blood-brain barrier is a key mechanism that prevents harmful toxins from entering the brain. The major antioxidant defenders in the blood-brain barrier are glutathione and metallothionein. Both of these powerful free radical scavenging antioxidants are capable of capturing free, toxic copper.
While studies have directly linked copper toxicity to Alzheimer’s brain degeneration, it is significant to address that glutathione and metallothionein expression have both been found decreased in those with Alzheimer’s. Without these essential metal-capturing antioxidants, copper (and other metals like mercury) will accumulate in brain and neuronal tissues.
Copper Toxicity: OCD & SchizophreniaCopper toxicity and deranged ceruloplasmin metabolism are strongly implicated in neurological and psychiatric conditions such as OCD and schizophrenia. A 2008 study found a direct association between elevated ceruloplasmin and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) (6). Unfortunately, the study did not look at concomitant serum copper values, which would have established the probable cause of elevated ceruloplasmin, i.e. high copper causing an increased production of the copper-carrying protein ceruloplasmin.
For several decades, copper toxicity has been studied in direct relationship to schizophrenia. Rather than lumping schizophrenia into one clinical condition, research scientist William Walsh, PhD has asserted that schizophrenics are of varying types. Based upon his research of schizophrenics (which includes an enormous database of testing results), copper toxicity is one primary etiology (1).
A likely mechanism behind copper’s psychological and neurological effects is its induction of dopaminergic activity. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is often referred to as the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter. However, dopamine is converted into the excitatory neurotransmitter norepinephrine, and copper is a major co-factor for this conversion.
Research has found that norepinephrine levels are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (2), as well as in certain regions of the brain (3) among paranoid schizophrenics.
Norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) induces “fight or flight” stress responses, excitatory physiological responses (such as elevated heart rate) and greatly impacts large parts of the brain responsible for thinking, arousal, alertness, decision making and emotional responses. Elevated norepinephrine caused by copper toxicity may be a major culprit in attention deficit disorder (ADD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia, as well as other behavioral-related issues.
Copper Toxicity: Huntington’s, Parkinson’s & Wilson’sA genetic condition known as Huntington’s Disease induces a characteristic neurological degeneration as well as involuntary muscular jerks known as chorea. Similar involuntary movements are also characteristic of Parkinson’s Disease as well. A common feature among both of these conditions features copper toxicity.
A fascinating study published in 2013 from John’s Hopkins University School of Medicine found that Huntington’s disease features dramatic increases in copper protein activities. Additionally, copper depletion therapy dramatically reduces Huntington’s gene expression:
“Copper reduction dramatically decreases the level of toxic huntingtin levels. Strikingly, substitution of two potential copper-binding residues of huntingtin completely dissociates the copper-intensifying toxicity of huntingtin” (7).
Parkinson’s Disease features neurodegeneration, impaired motor function and dopamine neuronal damage. α-synuclein is a key protein that is expressed, and aggregates in the central nervous system among those with Parkinson’s. The Neuronal damage caused by α-synuclein is accelerated by numerous toxic metals, and the existing literature demonstrates that copper increases α-synuclein aggregation more than any other metal (10), (11).
Wilson’s Disease is a condition that involves toxic copper accumulation due to genetic mutations of the ATP7B copper transport gene. As a result, copper cannot effectively bind to ceruloplasmin (the copper-carrying protein that transports 95% of total copper in the body). Wilson’s induces numerous types of movement-deranged symptoms, similar to those of Parkinson’s. If left untreated, Wilson’s disease can result in severe liver damage known as hepatic cirrhosis, as well as damage to the basal ganglia of the brain.
Research has shown that oral copper depletion therapy is highly effective at restoring health among those with Wilson’s (12).
Copper Toxicity: PyroluriaPyroluria is a condition that has also been known as KPU, kryptopyroluria and Hydroxyhemopyrrolin-2-one and HPL. Pyrlouria was first identified by Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD several decades ago. Pyroluria is often found among those with neurological inflammation and symptoms such as: behavior disorders, schizophrenia, Lyme disease and OCD.
Pyroluria appears to be genetic, and in some instances is induced by severe levels of oxidative stress. Pyroluria causes an over-production of pyrroles, and as such causes rapid depletion of Vitamin B-6 and zinc levels. As zinc values are depleted, copper levels accumulate. This is likely due to the fact that copper and zinc are antagonists, and zinc is essential for the formation of metallothionein, a protein/antioxidant that binds to free copper ions.
Copper Toxicity & CancerDating back to the 1930’s, medical pioneer Emanuel Revici, MD found highly abnormal copper values among those with cancer. Specifically, Dr. Revici found that cancer often featured elevated serum copper, but low levels of intracellular copper (16).
Deranged copper metabolism has been found among various types of cancer such as: breast, brain, ovarian, bladder, gastric, lung, prostate and colon (17). One of the core causes between copper and cancer is due to copper’s role in angiogenesis, the formation of blood vessels. Angiogenesis is a key characteristic in cancer formation and metastasis, linking cancer tissue to the host’s blood supply. Highly vascularized tumors require copper as a core nutrient for tumor growth. Additional research supports the hypothesis that copper is also essential for cancer cell migration, which results in eventual metastasis.
Recent literature has found that the copper-depletion drug Tetrathiomolybdate significantly reduced the recurrence of breast cancer among women with a high risk relapse (18). In 2007, the same copper-depleting drug was studied in squamous cell carcinoma, where it was found highly effective at preventing cancer formation to the head and neck.
Another depleting drug D-penicillamine, has shown to be cytotoxic to leukemia and breast cancer cells (19).
The evidence suggests that copper toxicity and deranged copper metabolism is characteristic among numerous types of cancer, and that copper depletion appears to be highly beneficial for preventing cancer growth and metastasis.
Copper Toxicity: Contraceptives & PMS (Premenstrual Disorders)The use of all types of birth control medications raise serum copper levels (21). This includes both estrogen and progesterone-based contraceptives. While it is known that certain estrogens possess carcinogenic and genotoxic activities, research has found that copper increases estrogen’s genotoxic effects (22).
Women taking oral contraceptives may be copper toxic, and this will negatively impact their zinc status, due to the antagonistic role of zinc and copper. Studies have also found that the use of oral contraceptives cause Vitamin B-6 deficiency.
Studies have found direct correlations between PMS (premenstrual syndrome), low zinc and high copper. This imbalance is specifically expressive during the luteal phase of the cycle (23) (24), when PMS symptoms occur.
Copper Toxicity & Candida AlbicansCandida overgrowth is a very common, proliferative symptom. Candida is a yeast that exists in small amounts in the intestines. When conditions are ripe, candida can proliferate, where it disrupts the intestinal flora balance, increases GI toxicity, as well as causes secondary symptoms that may be related to: skin outbreaks and itchy rashes, brain fog, and systemic toxicity.
Research has found that candida requires copper for its proliferation (25). Often times, the trace mineral molybdenum is given to increase the detoxification of the acetaldehydes that are produced by candida species. Curiously, molybdenum is a powerful copper antagonist.
Copper Toxicity: The CausesBased upon all of the existing data, research and literature, there can be multiple causes of copper toxicity.
- Genetic Mutations that negatively alter copper-transport proteins such as ceruloplasmin (CP gene). Genetic mutations that influence or cause the development of Huntington’s (HTT gene) and Wilson’s (ATP7B copper transport gene)
- Environmental Copper Toxicity. Sources include: Copper pipes, dental fillings, copper-contaminated foods, contaminated municipal drinking water containing copper sulfate as an anti-fungal, copper IUD’s, copper fungicides, copper cookware and jewelry. (Note: copper pipes combined with water softening will increase the leaching of copper and other toxic metals by making water acidic).
- Nutrient Deficiencies: vegetarian and vegan diets (tend to be high in copper and low in zinc), zinc deficiency, pyrrole disorder
- Increased Oxidative Stress: Deficiencies in the expression of cellular antioxidants such as metallothionein and glutathione, both of which bind to free copper ions
Testing copper should always involve testing zinc status as well, because of the close, antagonistic relationship between zinc and copper. Additionally, I have found that the concomitant testing of hair zinc and copper, with serum/plasma zinc and copper is highly beneficial. This is because the hair shows one pathway of excretion of these minerals over 3-4 months. Whereas the serum and plasma values are reflective of day to day activities, and exist in circulation. So both the hair and blood tests together are ideal.
If someone is dealing with a known copper toxicity, a known or suspected copper toxicity-based genetic condition, then the regular testing of ceruloplasmin (the primary copper-carrying protein) with hair and blood zinc/copper tests is extremely warranted.
Each of these tests are relatively inexpensive, and yet can provide tremendous data regarding copper toxicity and zinc deficiencies. Please contact us to learn more about Copper Toxicity Self Screening tests.
Nutritional Solutions For Copper ToxicityThere are no “one size fits all” approaches. So therefore it is best to consult with a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner when dealing with copper toxicity. The following nutrients can be classified as very important in terms of copper toxicity.
Primary Copper Antagonistic NutrientsWhat is essential to first understand is that taking high doses of any one nutrient isolate has the capability of altering other important nutrients in the body. This is because all nutrients exist in relationship. Some of these relationships are closer among certain nutrients. It is important to understand that if one has copper toxicity, taking too many copper antagonists can actually result in a copper deficiency. This may be a very bad idea in some cases. Again, I need to emphasize the importance of consulting with an experienced practitioner in these regards.
The following nutrients are primarily used to antagonize copper:
- Zinc
- Molybdenum
- Manganese
- Arachadonic acid (omega 6)
- Sulfur (sulfur amino acid cysteine is essential for the formation of glutathione and metallothionein, both of which bind to free copper)
- Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Glutathione
- Metallothionein
- Alpha Lipoic Acid
- Beta Carotene
- Polyphenols