title: Copper deficiency in humans.
abstract: Copper deficiency of nutritional origin has been recognized as an important part of complex nutritional problems in Peru, as an occasional even in premature babies in Western countries, and as a real hazard of over-zealous zinc therapy or of prolonged parenteral alimentation in children or adults. Anaemia, osteoporosis and scurvy-like bone changes are recognized in the deficiency, and they respond to copper. Copper intake is falling in western countries as a result of prepackaging of foods, and low-grade chronic deficiency may become a problem. The features seen in Menkes' syndrome suggest that human beings may be rather susceptible to the vascular and neurological effects of copper deficiency; these effects may be encountered as a consequence of prolonged mild copper deficiency. Measurement of the serum concentrations of caeruloplasmin before and after moderate copper repletion is suggested as a method of detecting mild copper deficiency.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003300:Copper / Q000172:deficiency*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007706:Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D008249:Protein-Lysine 6-Oxidase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV