Evidence of Dietary Copper and Zinc Deficiencies

Abstract

The mean daily amounts of copper and zinc found in hospital diets by atomic absorption spectrometry were 0.76 and 9.4 mg, respectively. Comparison of these diets with published data showed median daily amounts of copper and zinc to be 0.78 and 12.0 mg, respectively, for 20 diets made from conventional foods. These amounts of copper and zinc are less than the 2 mg of copper and 13 mg of zinc thought to be required daily by adults. Hospital diets and perhaps diets in general seem to be low in copper and zinc; the amounts of copper are lower than those of zinc in comparison with respective requirements. Common dietary amounts of these elements may cause health problems.

Nutritional Adequacy, Nutrient Availability and Needs

“…Similar results have been found in the diets of the general population in other affluent countries (Klevay et al, 1979;Smith et al, 1982). Overconsumption of highly refined food items may partly contribute to the low intake level of some of the elements, such as zinc, copper and selenium (Underwood, 1977).…”

Treatment of Wilson's disease with zinc. I. Oral zinc therapy regimens

“…However, more recent work has indicated that the earlier estimates are much too high and that the actual copper intake of most Americans is around 1.0 mg or less per day (16)(17)(18). We have confirmed that the intake of copper in self-selected diets of six normal subjects is about 1.0 mg per day (Hill, G. M. et al, Am.…”

Wilson’s Disease: An Update, with Emphasis on New Approaches to Treatment

“…Table I gives some average values to illustrate copper balance both in normals and in Wilson's disease patients. First, the dietary intake of copper is much less than thought only a few years ago, aver aging about 1.0 mg/day [2][3][4], with an ab sorption of about 60% [5], or approximately 0.6 mg/day. Occasionally, a high intake of copper from drinking water may occur.…”