Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #99867
Title: CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF DIETARY COPPER DEFICIENCY

Author
item Saari, Jack
item SCHUSCHKE, DALE - UNIV OF LOUISVILLE

Submitted to: Biofactors
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/12/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Dietary copper deficiency may impair cardiovascular health by contributing to high blood pressure, enhancement of inflammation, reduced blood clotting and arteriosclerosis. The purpose of this review is to compile information on the numerous changes of the heart, blood and blood vessels that may contribute to these cardiovascular defects. These alterations include weakened structural integrity of the heart and blood vessels, impairment of the use of energy by the heart, reduced ability of the heart to contract, altered ability of blood vessels to control their diameter and to grow, and altered structure and function of circulating blood cells. The fundamental causes of these changes rest largely on reduced effectiveness of enzymes that depend on copper for their activity.

Technical Abstract: Dietary copper deficiency may impair cardiovascular health by contributing high blood pressure, enhancement of inflammation, reduced blood clotting an arteriosclerosis. The purpose of this review is to compile information on numerous changes of the heart, blood and blood vessels that may contribute these cardiovascular defects. These alterations include weakened structural lintegrity of the heart and blood vessels, impairment of the use of energy by the heart, reduced ability of the heart to contract, altered ability of blood vessels to control their diameter and to grow, and altered structure and function of circulating blood cells. The fundamental causes of these changes rest largely on reduced effectiveness of enzymes that depend on copper for their activity.