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

Effects of copper deficiency on the cardiovascular system of the rat.

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.