Adult intakes average 7.9 10.7 [95% CI 3.0
-23.0] mg/day
Food sources: meat (34%), cereals:
supplements 3%
Deficiency: vegetarians/vegans, alcohol
excess, malabsorption
Preparations contain 5-50 mg per day [150 mg
on NHS]
High intake: reduced absorption and increased
urinary excretion
Acute toxicity:
gastric
irritation, nausea, vomiting, metallic taste
GI upset more
likely if gastritis, ulcer
H.pylori
Chronic toxicity:
copper deficiency due to
trapping of Cu in enterocyte by induced thionein production (anaemia, neutropenia and
neurological problems) poor
immune function
raised cholesterol
levels
possibly increased
cancer growth- greater risk of more advance prostate cancer if intake >100 mg/day ref
Diagnosis; Pl. zinc, low Pl. copper and
neutropaenia/anaemia