In long-term bedridden elderly patients with dietary copper deficiency, biochemical markers of bone resorption are increased with copper supplementation during 12 weeks.
BACKGROUND
Although the effect of copper on bone has been tested in animals and healthy subjects, no studies concerning the effect of copper supplementation on bone metabolism in patients with copper deficiency have been reported because of the rarity of these patients. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of copper supplementation on bone metabolism in copper-deficient patients.


METHODS
This study included 10 patients (83.7 +/- 8.3 years) with dietary copper deficiency under long-term bed rest for more than 12 months. They had their diets supplemented with copper sulfate (3 mg/day) over 12 weeks in addition to their diet of only one kind of enteral food with a low concentration of copper. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin, urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) and collagen-type 1 N-telopeptide (NTX) (biomarkers of bone resorption), serum osteocalcin (OC) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (Bone ALP) (biomarkers of bone formation) were analyzed at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks after copper supplementation.


RESULTS
DPD and NTX excretion were significantly increased 4 weeks after copper supplementation (p = 0.009 and p = 0.013, respectively). Serum bone ALP and OC were not significantly changed 12 weeks after copper supplementation (p = 0.051 and p = 0.594).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with nutritional copper deficiency, bone resorption markers are increased with copper supplementation.
Kawada
Etsuo
E
Department of General Medicine, Gunma University Hospital, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan. kawadae@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Moridaira
Kazuaki
K
Itoh
Katsuhiko
K
Hoshino
Ayami
A
Tamura
Jun'ichi
J
Morita
Toyoho
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000652:urine*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000652:urine*; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000652:urine*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism
D000596:Amino Acids; D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010455:Peptides; D014131:Trace Elements; C052929:collagen type I trimeric cross-linked peptide; D003300:Copper; C036020:deoxypyridinoline; D002570:Ceruloplasmin