Copper from urine Wilson's disease

This test measures the level of copper in urine

This test is primarily designed to detect and monitor Wilson's disease, a genetic disorder that affects the way the body processes copper. In Wilson disease, copper accumulates in the body, causing damage to the liver and eventually to other organs such as the kidneys, eyes and brain.

Copper causes iron to be fixed in hemoglobin, the red dye in our blood, and thus plays a role in oxygen transport in the body. Copper is also involved in the pigmentation of skin and hair and in connective tissue and bone formation. Copper is also important for good resistance and contributes to our body's energy supply.

According to Dr. Grabowski, many cases of alleged anemia due to iron deficiency are actually due to copper deficiency. Like iron, copper is involved in the formation of hemoglobin. Be mindful of low copper levels in anemia which additional iron will not resolve. Copper deficiency presents exactly like iron deficiency and you will never know the difference unless you test for it.

What is it in?

Copper is found mainly in organ meats, seafood, seafood, nuts and grain products. In addition, fruits and vegetables and cocoa products are sources of copper. The recommended daily allowance for adults (ages 22-50) is set by the Health Council at 1.5 - 3.5 mg. Pregnant women need extra copper because about 16 mg of copper is sequestered in the placenta and fetus during pregnancy. Breastfeeding women also need more copper to compensate for the amount of copper that leaves the body with breast milk.

Copper absorption is inhibited by zinc and by a vitamin C intake of at least 1,500 milligrams per day. This is equivalent to about 25 oranges.
According to the Health Council, the maximum safe dose for adults is 5 milligrams of copper/day. This is equivalent to 550 grams of cooked brown rice. The safe dose is an average value, with a wide margin. This means that one-time or short-term excess of the maximum safe dose does not pose an immediate danger.

What are the consequences of excess copper?

An excess of copper is usually caused by contamination of food and/or beverages. Symptoms that result include excess saliva, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Symptoms commonly associated with copper deficiency are anemia, reduction in the immune system and bone abnormalities, such as osteoporosis.

This test is requested by doctors when someone has symptoms that seem to fit Wilson's disease, Menkes syndrome, copper stacking, copper poisoning or copper deficiency. These often include symptoms such as anemia, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, jaundice and difficulty walking and swallowing. Also, when problems with copper metabolism occur in the family, this may be a reason to request copper.

Copper is a mineral that is essential to the body. It is built into enzymes by the body. These enzymes play an important role in a variety of processes in the body, such as energy production and brain function. Copper is absorbed through food (e.g., nuts, chocolate, mushrooms, shellfish and grains). Water can also contain copper when water pipes are made of copper or cooked in copper pans.

Copper is absorbed by the intestine and transported to the liver. In the liver, the copper is stored or bound to the protein ceruloplasmin, to which it is transported into the blood. Copper is excreted through the stool and a small amount leaves the body through the urine.

Wilson disease is an inherited disease in which too little of the protein ceruloplasmin is made in the liver. Ceruloplasmin is a binding protein for copper. A lack of the protein causes copper to accumulate in the liver, brain, kidneys and the cornea of the eye. The amount of copper in the blood is reduced. The excretion of copper in the bile is reduced; the excretion of copper with the urine is increased.

Menkes syndrome (kinky hair syndrome) is an inherited disease that occurs mostly in boys. In this disease, the intestine absorbs copper from food, but then does not release it to the rest of the body. This creates an excess of copper in the intestine and a deficiency in the rest of the body.

The symptoms from a copper IUD

The complaints from a copper IUD are individual, and a copper allergy is immediately noticeable but cannot be measured. There are no measurements yet to relate complaints one-to-one to the copper IUD.

Reference values Copper from urine:

Physiological range: < 60 µg/24h.
In suspected Wilson's disease: > 100 µg/24h.
Method:

ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry).
Clinical Indication:

Suspicion of Wilson's disease, Menkes syndrome, copper deficiency (in iron-resistant anemia).
Assessment:

Significantly increased copper excretion (>100 µg/24 hours) is found in Wilson's disease.