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| Copper Toxicity | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 18 2011, 02:44 PM (2,006 Views) | |
| yass | Aug 18 2011, 02:44 PM Post #1 |
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Introduction When medical science comes to understand the implications of a copper imbalance, it may be referred to as the scourge of the late 20th century. It is one of the most commonly encountered imbalances that we find on tissue mineral tests today. Many of the most prevalent metabolic dysfunctions of our time are related in some way to a copper imbalance. Copper toxicity is a much overlooked contributor to many health problems; including anorexia, fatigue, premenstrual syndrome, depression, anxiety, migraine headaches, allergies, childhood hyperactivity and learning disorders. The involvement of copper toxicity and biounavailability in such a wide range of health conditions may seem unusual. It is our intent in this paper to show how copper is regulated in the body and why it is such a key mineral in so many metabolic dysfunctions. http://www.advancedfamilyhealth.com/copperdocument.htm |
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| yass | Aug 18 2011, 02:45 PM Post #2 |
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When assessing Cellular Nutrition with Acu-Cell Analysis, only essential, biological elements that have their own cell receptors are measured. They are neurologically arranged into left-sided and right-sided groups and are discussed in associated pairs, as they function as an inseparable, interdependent unit:  | Boron | Bromine | Strontium | Bioflavonoids | Vit A D K | B12 B15 C E | B-Complex | _______________________________________________________________________ Trace mineral symptoms of excess or deficiency are generally one-sided, depending on their ratios to other chemical members, and depending which group they are neurologically assigned to. In the event of calcification, it is not a high calcium level that results in the formation of a stone or spur, but calcium being high in ratio to associated or interactive elements. For instance, phosphorus and zinc have both left-sided cell receptors, so if either level is low in ratio to calcium, calcification would only take place on the left side of the body, whereas the cell receptors of manganese or magnesium are right-sided, as a result, any calcification would develop on the right side of the body only. The same rules apply to most nutrition-related inflammatory or degenerative conditions, so successful, non-symptomatic treatments require the application of those same principles. Since intracellular and serum levels of nutrients represent different physiological and pathological processes, abnormal levels seen in one medium are not necessarily reflected in the other, so they need to be interpreted differently. ============================================================================== Chromium & Copper: These two elements are the most important nutrients next to calcium and magnesium for their anti-inflammatory properties. They share left / right-sided cell receptors and are considered essential to human health. While neither one - with few exceptions - is generally found to be very deficient level-wise, chromium (Cr) is on average always lower than copper (Cu), with virtually no exceptions. Copper, on the other hand is elevated in the majority of patients, which creates a chronic copper / chromium conflict ratio- wise in these individuals. In fact, of all the patients I have tested since the mid 70's, nearly 90% exhibited a chemical profile that in addition to their own unique chemistry contained an underlying pattern that reflected the impact of high copper levels on various opposing nutrients, which include chromium, molybdenum, sulfur, nickel, Vitamin C, hesperidin, and others. Although chromium appears to be normal on the following graph, it is very low in ratio to copper, its associated element, so when supplementing chromium, its level will generally not increase at first, but instead it will gradually lower copper, and in the example below, potassium, since they are high in ratio to chromium. Only after copper and potassium have been reduced to normal levels, chromium may at that point start to go up. However, since sufficient amounts of chromium are rarely used, in practice, copper and potassium just come down closer to normal, and chromium levels stay the same. Magnesium levels frequently go up following long-term supplementation of chromium because of its synergism with chromium, and also because of potassium (which is a magnesium antagonist) going down, and thus not exerting an inhibiting effect on magnesium any longer:  Chromium / Copper & associated mineral interactions There are other copper antagonists such as zinc, but while zinc is generally documented as such in the nutritional literature, it is not only the weakest of all copper antagonists, but its action on copper takes place only on an intestinal level, so once copper goes into storage, zinc will have no effect on lowering copper any longer. The only time zinc could become a threat to copper is in situations where either copper levels are already on the low side and high amounts of zinc are consumed, or when potassium and calcium - being "synergistic allies" to copper - are below normal. Many patients exhibit high levels of zinc and copper, in which case a common denominator such as ascorbic acid / Vitamin C has to be supplemented in larger amounts to help lower both, while certain foods such as nuts, shellfish or wheat germ... (containing high levels of copper and zinc), should be avoided. One major reason why some people require a much higher intake of Vitamin C compared to others is that they exhibit very high levels of copper, which in these people happens to interfere with nickel and Vitamin C metabolism. (see also Acu-Cell "Vitamin C Supplementation"). Copper is present in all tissues. The average adult body contains about 80 to 120mg of copper, of which most of it is stored in the liver. It is an important catalyst in the formation of the oxygen-carrying molecule hemoglobin. Copper is transferred by albumin across the gut wall and carried to the liver where it is formed into ceruloplasmin, a copper transport protein. Sufficient ceruloplasmin levels affect a decrease in the absorption of copper to minimize copper toxicity. Copper is an essential component of several physiologically important enzymes, including • cytochrome oxidase, which is necessary for energy metabolism, cellular respiration, and myelin formation, • superoxide dismutase (SOD), which helps slow down age-related deterioration of the body, protects from developing chemical sensitivities (along with polyphenol oxidase), and it is important for normal humoral immune response, • histaminase, which breaks down histamine, to control allergies and inflammation, • lysil oxidase, which is necessary for the formation of the cross-links of collagen and elastin, • tyrosinase, which is associated with normal pigmentation and keratinization of hair, • dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, with which copper serves as a cofactor in the synthesis of norepinephrine, an important neurotransmitter and adrenal hormone that affects fatigue, mood and depression. Chronically elevated copper levels in most patients may result from one-sided diets that lack co-factors or copper antagonists, or from the fact that many copper-rich foods are somewhat addictive, such as cocoa / chocolate products, colas, coffee, or tea (copper levels are even higher in tea than in coffee). Other sources include seafood / shellfish, seeds and nuts, liver, soy products, foods or beverages that are cooked or stored in copper containers (beer), tap water (copper plumbing), and copper IUDs. Due to the synergism of copper and aluminum (aluminium), a higher intake or absorption of aluminum - ranging from anti-perspirants, tetra packs, all the way to municipal drinking water treated with aluminum sulphate and polyaluminum chloride (used as coagulants) - will result in greater copper retention and lowered sulfur levels since both, aluminum and copper are sulfur antagonists. High cellular copper levels, along with related sulfur deficiencies, can be considered to be one of the most prominent causes of many physical and mental health problems, including Alzheimer's Disease. Higher estrogen hormone levels from Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), taking birth control pills and pregnancy increase intracellular copper and manganese levels, and they sometimes raise serum copper as well, which can contribute to changes in sugar metabolism, oxygen metabolism (asthma), and a female's mental and emotional well-being. Serum copper levels also generally increase during acute infections, where at the same time serum iron levels decline. The only genetic association to toxic copper overload is found in Wilson's disease, which however is relatively rare. Copper Toxicity or excessive copper levels have been associated with physical and mental fatigue, depression and other mental problems, schizophrenia, learning disabilities, hyperactivity / ADD, mood swings (sometimes violent, criminal or psychotic behavior) and general behavioral problems, memory and concentration problems, some dementias, sleep disorders, postpartum depression, increased risk of infections, vascular degeneration, hemangiomas, headaches, arthritis, spinal / muscle / joint aches and pains, and several cancers. Copper is a necessary component to support angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels in tumors), so to a certain extent, lowering copper reduces the risk to develop benign and malignant (cancerous) tumors. Nausea and vomiting are not only common effects from copper toxicity, but they can also be experienced when copper is supplemented on an empty stomach, with acidic foods or beverages, or with taking higher amounts of Vitamin C. Low Copper intake can increase the risk of high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, irregular heartbeat, decreased pigmentation of skin / vitiligo, premature graying hair, hernias, aneurysm (bulging of a blood vessel wall), varicose veins, dermatitis, fatigue, anemia, anorexia, thyroid problems, arthritis and fragile bones, neutropenia (low neutrophils), lowered immunity, poor healing, allergies, mood and nervous disorders. Menke's disease is a rare problem of copper malabsorption in male infants. Some people are convinced that Copper Bracelets help reduce the symptoms of arthritis, whereby measurements do confirm an increase in intracellular copper from wearing these bracelets and bands. Since copper is anti-inflammatory, positive effects can be real and attributable to copper salts being formed and absorbed as a result of copper reacting with fatty acids in the skin. As long as someone's copper is on the low side, this practice is an effective way to help increase copper levels, however in someone suffering from copper overload, the extra copper absorbed from these bracelets can worsen medical symptoms resulting from already high copper levels, or they may over time create new medical problems in those whose copper levels were previously normal. Copper shares many attributes with calcium, whereby both can become bio-unavailable at high levels and result in symptoms of deficiency! (see also Acu-Cell Nutrition "Calcium & Magnesium"). Some practitioners, unaware of the underlying copper excess and lacking the resources to test intra- cellular levels of copper get temporary results by having a patient supplement more copper. Despite the initial improvement, this can have disastrous long-term effects on a patient's physical and mental health. The correct approach consists of making copper (or calcium) more bioavailable by supplementing the appropriate co-factors, with the best choice being those whose levels are lowest ratio-wise to copper, - and as mentioned above - may include Vitamin C, chromium, sulfur (MSM), molybdenum, nickel, or (rarely) zinc. Avoidance of foods high in copper is of utmost importance as well. This will take care of the medical conditions a practitioner was originally consulted for, and at the same time prevents the potential development of new medical problems elsewhere related to excessive copper intake. Chromium is the "Gold Standard" to help normalize elevated copper, since it is its associated trace element. More aches and pains, arthritis, slow-healing fractures, sciatica and other back problems, various infections, etc, can be relieved with chelated chromium (not GTF), than with many other supplements - provided they conform to the side-specific requirements (see introduction above), provided that calcium and magnesium are close to normal, since they are also involved with various disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and provided that potassium levels are not below normal, since chromium is a potent potassium antagonist. Following a close second is sulfur, usually supplemented in the form of MSM, whose main action in addition to helping restore cartilage formation is the lowering of copper! So again, it is the high copper levels which created a need for sulfur to help reverse joint degeneration. Originally, glucosamine sulfate (another copper-lowering sulfur compound) had been the non-drug treatment of choice for joint problems, however its insulin-depressing potential has considerably reduced its popularity in individuals with hyperglycemic (high blood sugar) tendencies, so MSM has become the preferred choice instead. (see also Acu-Cell Nutrition "Selenium & Sulfur"). Copper works synergistically with potassium and calcium, so when patients do exhibit low copper levels, then calcium and potassium are frequently on the low side as well. Taking a 3mg copper pill for one or two months, or less, is all that is needed for an adult to normalize any copper deficiency, and then it should always be discontinued, otherwise copper will go too high - being another reason why most people should avoid multi-mineral formulations containing more than 1 mg of copper. Chromium occurs in any oxidation state from -2 to +6. Trivalent chromium (Cr+3) is the biologically active form, while hexavalent chromium (Cr+6) is potentially toxic to the human body. GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor) chromium is essential in helping regulate carbohydrate metabolism by improving the uptake of glucose into the cells so it can be metabolized to produce energy (ATP). It consists of chromium in the trivalent state - nicotinic acid and the three amino acids glycine, glutamic acid and cysteine. Chromium is able to improve cholesterol and triglyceride status, however while small amounts are necessary for normal carbohydrate metabolism and to help with blood sugar management in diabetics, supplementing higher amounts of chromium will not reverse Type II diabetes, as some sources claim. On a similar note, Chromium Picolinate (chromium + picolinic acid) does not increase lean muscle tissue and decrease body fat, as advertised by other sources. In fact, in contrast to the control groups, some of the participants in the chromium picolinate groups actually gained weight, and one published medical report stresses the implications of analogues of picolinic acid being able to cause significant behavioral changes in those with an increased susceptibility for mood disorders. Chromium picolinate is clearly the least desirable form to be used for supplementation (see below for additional adverse effects). Tissue concentrations of chromium vary considerably in people from different parts of the world, with amounts in people living in Asia for example being up to five times higher compared to those in people living in the United States. These higher chromium levels may be one reason for a lower incidence of diabetes or bone loss in these regions or countries. In addition, excessive sugar intake - prevalent in Western societies - increases chromium loss and accelerates declining levels with increasing age, which worsens medical conditions associated with lowered chromium levels. There are also lower soil levels of chromium in North America, and the refining process of food (sugar cane, whole grains) reduces sources of chromium as well. Exercise and trauma also contribute to chromium loss, and it is interesting to note that in laboratory animals, extra chromium supplementation resulted in a life span increase of up to 33%. Absorption of various forms of chromium, including GTF is in a low 1-3% range, with the absorption of Chelated Chromium being usually closer to 25%, so chelated chromium is the preferable choice for specific medical applications. For instance, when chromium is used for inflammatory conditions such as an acute bladder infection (cystitis), taking 20,000 mcg of GTF chromium has little or no effect at all on improving the symptoms, while 2-3,000 mcg / day of chelated chromium will rectify most cases of cystitis, or it can be used to resolve chronic bladder infections by having patients supplement a lower, preventative maintenance amount. Osteoporosis of trabecular bone (spine or end-part of bone) is frequently caused by chromium being abnormally low in ratio to either copper, potassium, selenium, and/or rarely, vanadium. Chromium is required for proper parathyroid functions, so any of these Cr antagonists can become responsible for bone loss if supplemented needlessly, or if their levels remain too high too long for any other dietary or genetic reason. However, one other major factor that is responsible for bone loss as a result of its chromium-lowering effect - particularly in Western Societies - and which has been totally overlooked is Sugar, and all other Simple Carbohydrate sources! (see also Acu-Cell Disorders "Osteoporosis"). ¤ http://www.acu-cell.com/crcu.html |
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| yass | Aug 18 2011, 02:45 PM Post #3 |
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Copper and zinc imbalance Causes and Corrections of Psoriasis http://www.omgili.com/newsgroups/alt/suppo...forum:yedda.com Study watch : Low Zinc / Copper Ratio In the March 2009 issues of Biomarkers journal : The plasma zinc/serum copper ratio as a biomarker in children with autism spectrum disorders. http://autismjabberwocky.blogspot.com/2009...pper-ratio.html |
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| yass | Aug 18 2011, 02:46 PM Post #4 |
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 Element #24 on the Periodic Table, Chromium (Cr) is a steel-gray, lustrous metal in its pure elemental form. Chromium deficiencies result in low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), pre-diabetes, and of course diabetes itself. One university study clearly showed a 33% increase in the lifespan of laboratory animals when they were supplemented with Chromium. It takes a Chromium molecule to burn fat and properly metabolize caloric intake, and most people are highly deficient in Chromium. The body requires pure Chromium ions to create lean muscle, so if you wish to more efficiently build your body's muscle mass, it is vitally important to give your body pure elemental chromium molecules as you workout. Instead of resorting to the trap of steroid usage, elemental ionic chromium supplementation is much safer and is often every bit as effective. This supplement is pure elemental Chromium, not an inferior compound such as Chromium Picolinate. http://meminerals.com/catalog/Specials.asp...0X34343&Start=1 |
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| yass | Aug 18 2011, 02:49 PM Post #5 |
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