Efficacy and effects of copper
Copper is an indispensable substance for a healthy brain. Copper, like zinc and iron, is an important component of neurotransmitters in the brain. Insufficient intake can lead to neurological disorders and brain dysfunction, resulting in memory loss, disordered thinking, delayed response, and even unstable gait and movement disorders. A healthy and flexible brain cannot lack copper. It has an important impact on the body’s hematopoietic function.
As many people know, the body’s hematopoietic function is related to iron, and the lack of iron will cause iron deficiency anemia. Iron is an important raw material for hematopoiesis, but in order for iron to become part of hemoglobin, it must be supported by copper, which plays an important role in the transport and utilization of iron in the body. The amount of copper in the body is less than iron, but without it, iron cannot synthesize hemoglobin, and hematopoiesis is affected, resulting in anemia, which is called copper deficiency anemia. Copper has an important impact on the development of human bones. Copper in the human body plays a very important role in the development of human bones. Data show that adolescents who consume enough copper are above the average height, while those who are below the average height have a copper intake that is mostly below the standard value. The intake of copper in individual short teenagers is 50% to 60% lower than that of tall teenagers. Copper has an anti-aging effect. The production of free radicals and other metabolic wastes in the body is a major cause of normal cell death and human aging.
What are the physiological functions of copper?
Copper is an essential trace element in the human body. As early as 1878, scientists discovered the presence of copper in living organisms, and as research progressed, copper was linked to human health. Copper in the human body exists mainly in the form of copper-containing proteins, such as copper-containing oxidase. Many electron transfer and redox processes in the body are catalyzed by copper-containing enzymes, which are essential to the body. The physiological functions of copper can be summarized as follows.
1, maintain normal hematopoietic function: copper is involved in iron metabolism and erythropoiesis, not only important for the generation of ferritin, but also can promote the production of hemoglobin, so copper deficiency can lead to the occurrence of anemia.
2, promote the formation of connective tissue: copper can promote the cross-linking of collagen and elastin, which is necessary for the formation of connective tissue. Therefore, copper has an important influence on the formation of skin and bones, and the perfection of connective tissues in the heart and vascular system.
3, maintain the health of the central nervous system: enzymes composed of copper play a catalytic role in the process of nerve myelin and neurotransmitter generation, and copper has an important role in some hereditary and episodic neurological disorders.
4, involved in melanin formation and maintenance of normal hair structure: copper-containing enzymes such as tyrosinase and sulfhydryl oxidase have the role of catalyzing the generation of melanin and maintaining the normal structure of hair and preventing hair keratinization.
5, antioxidant: copper blue protein is the body’s antioxidant, can scavenge free radicals, protect unsaturated fatty acids that are easily destroyed by hydroxyl oxidation, so that the body from peroxidative damage.
