Copper and Zinc, Biological Role and Significance of Copper/Zinc Imbalance

Abstract

The human body has an elaborate system for managing and regulating the amount of key trace metals circulating in blood and stored in cells. Nutrient metals from our diet are incorporated into blood if blood levels are depleted, transported into cells if cellular levels are inadequate, or excreted if blood and cell levels are sufficient or overloaded. When this system fails to function properly, abnormal levels and ratios of trace metals can develop. One of the most common trace-metal imbalances is elevated copper and depressed zinc. The ratio of copper to zinc is clinically more important than the concentration of either of these trace metals [1].