Anemia - Maybe a Copper Deficiency
Anemia - Maybe a Copper Deficiency
Dr. C.M. Curtis
07/12/2024
What nutritional supplement comes to mind when you think of anemia?
It’s Iron, right?
So you have iron deficiency anemia, your blood tests show low ferritin levels, you take an iron supplement, you deal with the unpleasant gastrointestinal side effects of the supplement, and 3 months later you get follow-up blood tests that show everything is normal. All is well.
But you still have fatigue, cold sensitivity, weakness, pallor (pale skin), cognitive problems, and maybe a few other symptoms of anemia.
What’s going on? Obviously, there is something else amiss.
That something else may be a copper deficiency
Health professionals routinely monitor blood iron levels, while copper status is routinely ignored. Copper deficiency can manifest the same symptoms as iron deficiency anemia.
Here’s why
Copper is essential to the function of a number of enzymes, at least 3 of which are essential for Iron metabolism. You see, having sufficient iron levels in the body is not enough; your body must be able to metabolize that Iron. Below is a list of 3 key enzymes in Iron metabolism, that require copper to function:
Ceruloplasmin. Releases stored Iron into the bloodstream.
Hepcidin. Regulates iron release into the bloodstream.
Hephaestin. Ensures that iron is bound to transferrin, which in turn, carries it to the tissues.
Copper and zinc
Many people take a zinc supplement or a multi-supplement with zinc in it. If you’re one of them, it would be a good idea to also take a copper supplement, as zinc can cause copper deficiency.
I mentioned earlier in this article that copper deficiency anemia looks very much like iron deficiency anemia and this is true. Moreover, high iron levels (as in people who take iron supplements for anemia) can