Why is iron not absorbed well, even with supplements? The important role of copper deficiency
Many people take iron supplements to counter fatigue and anemia, but not always blood values – like hemoglobin and ferritin – improve as expected. Especially with the advance of age, it often happens to feel that "iron is not absorbed", attributing the cause to generic or unclear factors. In fact, in some cases the problem is not how iron it takes, but how the organism manages to use it. A frequently underestimated cause – and in my opinion among the most relevant – is copper deficiency. Copper plays an essential role in iron metabolism: it helps to mobilize and make it available for the production of red blood cells. When copper is insufficient, iron can accumulate in organs such as liver and bowel without being properly used. The result is an anemia that seems to be due to iron deficiency, but is not resolved simply by increasing its intake.
Our organism works as a complex and well coordinated system: because everything proceeds correctly, it is necessary that each element be present in the right quantities. Just as a motor needs all its fluids to work without damaging, the human body also requires a nutritional balance. When a key nutrient is missing, disturbances that often do not depend on one cause, but on a delicate balance that alters.
The relationship between copper and iron is more important than you think, and it is also easy to understand.
In our body there are two "helpers" that depend on copper and which serve to make iron work well:
ceruloplasmine: it is a protein in the blood that "prepades" iron in the right form, so it can be transported where it serves, that is to the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.
Efaestina: Helps iron out of the bowel cells and enter the blood.
If copper is missing, these two helpers work badly. Iron is therefore not used as it should: instead of circular in the blood, it remains stuck in the tissues.
The result? It seems like a classic iron deficiency... but in reality the iron is there, only the body fails to use it well.
What scientific studies say
Already in the 1930s, animal studies showed that rats with poor copper diet developed anemia that did not cure with iron, but resolved by adding copper.
More recent studies confirm that in copper deficiency the activity of ceruloplasmina falls very much, iron accumulates in the liver and anemia does not respond to iron supplements. When you give copper, the values return normal.
Useful links of the main studies and revisions (all free or accessible) – Complete review of the link between copper and iron:
http://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3690345/ (Metabolic crossroads of iron and copper – Collins, 2010)
Linus Pauling Institute (very clear and evidence-based):
https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/copper
Article on the anemia triad, low count of white blood cells and copper deficiency myelopathy:
http://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5637704/ (Wazir et al., 2017)
Study showing how excess iron in the diet can reduce the absorption of copper:
Other clinical cases show that patients with iron-resistant anemia clearly improve after a few weeks of copper integration.
How much copper is needed and how to take it
The recommended daily requirement (RDA) for adults is 900 micrograms (0.9 mg) of copper per day. In pregnancy it rises at 1 mg, during breastfeeding at 1,3 mg.
https://od.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Copper-HealthProfessional/
To correct a confirmed deficiency (after blood analysis):
Usual doses: 2 mg per day of elementary copper (often as copper gluconate or bisglycinate, which are well tolerated forms).
In some cases it starts with 2-4 mg per day for a few weeks, always under medical control.
It should be taken preferably away from the main and separate meals of at least 2 hours from iron or zinc supplements (because they "rub" each other the absorption).
Attention: Do not exceed 10 mg total daily (diet + supplements) to avoid risk of toxicity (nausea, liver problems).
Before starting, it is always necessary to do the analysis of: sieric copper, ceruloplasmina, ferritin, hemoglobin.
You should always consult your doctor or nutritionist, especially if you have other pathologies or take medication.
Important:
This article is only informative. It does not replace a medical opinion. Do blood tests and ask your doctor for advice before starting any integration.
