Excess of copper

Copper – an element of the eleventh group in the table of chemical elements of D. I. Mendeleyev, which atomic number 29. The main biochemical function of copper in a human body is participation of this element in enzymatic reactions. Copper is a part of 11 enzymes. She participates in processes of a hemopoiesis, synthesis of hemoglobin, enzymes of tsitokhrom which play an important role in exchange of bile acids, of steroids, unsaturated fatty acids and neutralizations of xenobiotics (poisons, medicines, narcotic substances) in an organism promote. Copper is a necessary element for the pre-natal growth and development of the child. A considerable part of the copper which is in mother's organism is taken a fruit. Copper contributes to normalization of exchange of vitamins of groups B, A, E, C, P.

It is necessary that copper competes with zinc in processes of digestion of food in a digestive tract. So, excess of copper can provoke a lack of zinc of a human body. The World Health Organization formulated the rule concerning the content of copper in a human body: the risk of a lack of copper considerably exceeds risk from excess of copper in a human body.

Excess of copper provokes development of some diseases among which diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disturbances. Copper which contains in water and vitamin and mineral complexes has bigger toxicity, than the copper which is contained in food stuffs.

Excess of copper: reasons

Normal the healthy organism of the adult contains about 100 mg of copper, and its concentration in fabrics of bodies is various. The greatest concentration of copper is observed in a liver (to 5 mg on 100 g of dry weight) while contains in bone tissues to 0,7mg copper. Under the WHO recommendation the standard daily rate of copper necessary for normal functioning of an organism makes 1,5mg. The maximum permissible dose coming to an organism with food stuffs makes 5 mg. From the consumed food only 5-10% of the copper which is contained in products are acquired. In days the human body removes about 2 mg.

Are the reasons of excess of copper in an organism:

• Excess intake of copper in an organism. Excess of copper is improbable at the use of the products rich with this element. It is most probable at steam inhalation and compounds of copper and copper dust. Excess of copper can be also provoked in the household way (use of copper ware, poisoning with copper solutions). The excess of copper which arose in an organism as a result of steam inhalation is called foundry fever;
• Disturbance of exchange of microelements in a human body;
• Repeated sessions of a hemodialysis.

Symptoms of excess of copper

The main symptoms of the excess of copper received as a result of the use of products with the increased concentration of this element are:

• Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea;
• Metal smack in a mouth;
• Abdominal pains;
• Renal failure;
• Neurologic disturbances (the increased hypersalivation, behavior disorder, speeches, epileptic seizures);
• Liver failure.

Symptoms of excess of copper at organism poisoning with couples and compounds of copper are:

• Headache, the general weakness, slackness, the lowered working capacity;
• Nausea, vomiting;
• Thirst;
• Dry cough, stethalgia, feeling of constraint of a thorax;
• Fever and sharp temperature increase;
• Abdominal pain;
• Number of neurologic disturbances (expansion of pupils, strengthening of reflex activity of a brain).

At excess of copper muscular pains, depressions, an acrimony can be also observed. Also at excess of copper quickly there comes blood hemolysis which is shown by jaundice and emergence of blood in urine. However these symptoms develop at excessive concentration of copper in an organism.

Excess of copper at Wilson-Konovalov's disease

Wilson-Konovalov's disease – genetically caused copper metabolism disturbance as a result of which excess of copper in an organism is formed and a serious hereditary illness of the central nervous system and internals develop.

At Wilson-Konovalov's disease function of protein ATP7B connecting copper in liver cells is broken. Excess of the copper which is not connected by protein in a liver leads to its inflammation and further fibrosis and cirrhosis. Copper from a liver is emitted in blood and migrates on all organism, accumulating in eyes, kidneys, a brain. Excess of copper in these bodies leads to their toxic damage.

The main symptoms of a disease are constraint of movements that is caused by disturbance of motor function of an organism at sedimentation of copper in a brain, a liver failure and cirrhosis, emergence of a rim of copper color on an iris of eyes.

The disease will respond to treatment which main directions are medicines for increase in a conclusion of copper from an organism, a diet for prevention of excess of copper, vitamins. Patients at such disease need lifelong treatment. It is wrong to believe that excessive concentration of copper in an organism leads to development of this disease. However symptoms of a disease are caused by disturbance of binding and a conclusion of copper from an organism.

Excess of copper in an organism: treatment

At diagnosis of excess of copper in an organism to the patient treatment by drugs which effect is directed to binding and removal of copper from an organism (enterosorbents) is appointed. At severe forms of intoxication the gastric lavage, infusional therapy, diuretic drugs for copper removal strengthening is appointed. In certain cases at excess of copper the symptomatic treatment is applied.

At the excess of copper received in the production way and at poisoning with couples appoint expectorants, bronchial spasmolytics, an antidote.