Research on the Mineral Copper
The following research abstracts
are presented to reflect the findings of possible benefits from
minerals as a dietary supplement and nutritional supplement.
You will find more on the ionic
copper page.
GENERAL COPPER RESEARCH
Petering, H. G., Murphy, L.,
Stemmer, K. L., Finelli, V. N., & Menden, E. E. (1986) Biological
Trace Element Research, 9, 251+.
Weanling male rats were fed a
copper deficient diet devoid of
cholesterol. The effects of varying source of carbohydrate and
supplements of copper and zinc
on cardiovascular pathology and some biochemical and physiological
parameters were investigated. It was found that cardiomyopathy
developed in copper deficient groups.
Sucrose, in contrast to starch or starch:lactose (1:1), caused
significant exacerbation of this situation. Increasing dietary
Cu to 8 ppm prevented or minimized the development of cardiomyopathy.
Angiopathy occurred only when dietary zinc
was at the lower level (20 ppm). Dietary copper
supplements to 8.0 ppm did not alter this situation, but 120
ppm Zn in the drinking water did reduce the angiopathy almost
to the control level, except in the groups in which sucrose
was fed. Serum cholesterol was only elevated significantly over
the control value when dietary copper
was deficient and sucrose was the carbohydrate source. The data
point to independent action of dietary copper
or zinc on the myocardium or vessels, respectively, with sucrose
interacting to make copper and
zinc supplements less active than when
starch or starch/lactose was fed.
Cardiomyopathy/ angiopathy/ essential metals/ dietary carbohydrate/
lipid metabolism/ copper deficiency/ cardiovascular.
