Decreased plasma enkephalins in copper deficiency in man.
Twenty-four male subjects participated in a study in which the effect of feeding diets low in copper (1.03 mg/day) on plasma opiates was determined. The subjects were fed a low-copper diet for 11 wk with either starch or fructose as a major source of carbohydrate. Feeding low-copper diet decreased serum copper level significantly. In addition, plasma leu- and met-enkephalins decreased significantly while beta-endorphin levels rose. On repletion with copper (3 mg/day) for 3 wk, plasma enkephalins increased while beta-endorphin levels decreased to pretest values. These results suggest that feeding low copper decreases plasma enkephalins, which may reflect a copper-dependent process affecting enkephalin biosynthesis and/or release.
D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000097:blood; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine / Q000097:blood; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000097:blood; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D001615:beta-Endorphin
D002395:Catecholamines; D004723:Endorphins; D004745:Enkephalins; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine; D004743:Enkephalin, Leucine; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D003300:Copper; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002570:Ceruloplasmin