Copper (Symbol= Cu, Latin cuprum Greek kypros-A red-brown malleable (soft,able to be shaped) metal. Copper is essential in human metabolism. It is a component of proteins such as ceruloplasmin, and erythrocuprein, and the enzymes cytochrome C oxidase, superoxide dismutase, dopamine hydroxylase, tyrosinase and others. These enzymes have many important functions, demonstrating the importance of copper in human metabolism.

RDA of copper

The average diet supplies around 2mg per day. The suggested amount per day is roughly 1 micromole per kilgram of weight, and this works out to about 2.5 milligrams for a 70kg man. Several multivitamins also include a few milligrams of copper as a component. Copper is also stored in the body and can be used in times of need. Additionally, like other trace elements, copper can be re-used upon breakdown of copper-containing proteins. Green vegetables, oysters, fish, and liver are good sources of copper. In the newborn, copper deficiency doesn't immediately occur because copper is stored up in the foetal liver in utero. This supplies the newborn with copper until solids are begun, considering milk isn't a very good supply of copper.

Defociency and Toxicity of copper

Deficiencies of copper are rare. Only a few cases of copper deficiency have been cited. When present, copper deficiency cause anaemia, bone changes and neutropaenia (decrease in white blood cells). This is more demonstrated in the animal model. Cattle and other ruminants grazing on land with little copper develop osteoporosis, anaemia, ataxia (unsteady gait or walk), and other manifestations.