Copper is a trace element essential for the prevention of osteoporosis

copper prevents bone diseases such as osteoporosis

-copper influences decisively bone strength, preventing diseases like osteoporosis.

-A diet composed of copper-rich foods such as chocolate, cereals or seafood increases the level of copper in the body.

-copper is a trace element essential for the correct development of the fetus during pregnancy.

Madrid, September of 2011. Bone diseases are a problem that primarily affects the elderly. With the passage of time, people lose bone density at more risk of injury or serious fractures. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease, which is produced by a decrease in the amount of minerals in bones. This disease is common among elderly and postmenopausal women. The lack of calcium and minerals in the diet is one of the main causes of this disease.

Copper is a mineral essential to the human body. It ensures the normal functioning of the brain, the nervous system and the cardiovascular system, and also transports iron, helps the growth of bones and strengthens the immune system. A copper-rich diet may help prevent osteoporosis, as well as other diseases such as anemia, rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Studies show that the majority of the elderly who suffer any fracture in bones have levels of copper in blood lower than the recommended for their age.

According to various studies, about 30% of Western diets are deficient in copper, which is damaging to our bone system. Follow a diet rich in copper is not difficult, because this mineral is found in drinking water and many foods that we consume on a daily basis, such as chocolate, cereals, vegetables, seafood, nuts, or liver. Following a diet balanced with this type of food, we will always reduce the risk of fractures or bone problems.

The World Health Organization recommends an intake of copper 1, 3-1, 5 milligrams per day for adults and also establishes that a daily intake of copper between 1 and 11 mg, is safe for adults. The real intake of copper ranges between 0.6 and 2 mg per day, which suggests that a deficiency of copper in the usual diet may be worrying for health.

Other diseases

Bone problems aren’t the only ones that can arise in the absence of copper. Anemia (very common disease among women who have recently given birth), neutropenia (reduction of neutrophil in leukocytes count) or anatomical changes detrimental to health as muscular degeneration or arthritis. The lack of copper impairs the metabolism of cholesterol: a deficit of this mineral increases LDL (bad cholesterol) levels and reduce the levels of HDL (good cholesterol). Low copper levels also lead to adverse effects in the process of glucose metabolism and blood circulation.

Another problem related to the shortage of copper in the body is the disease of Menkes, an inherited disorder of metabolism of copper resulting in a lack of this mineral in the body, eventually causing irreversible damage. The problem lies in the absence of one of the genes responsible for transporting copper, which prevents the cells of the intestine to have necessary copper for the proper functioning of the body.

On the Spanish copper information centre (CEDIC):

CEDIC is a professional association of companies in the basic of the copper industry in Spain that develops an essentially informative activity in two different aspects. On the one hand it promotes and supports studies or research aimed at improving the techniques of obtaining, processing and use of copper. On the other hand, it brings together all the documentation produced in Spain and in other countries, concerning the copper to publicize her.

In this line, CEDIC has established a relationship of mutual cooperation with organizations public or private, national or foreign, with parallel to their own objectives. Among others, the International Copper Association (ICA), headquartered in New York, the European Copper Institute (ECI), based in Brussels, in addition to other twenty-three similar to CEDIC centres distributed throughout the world, eleven of them in Europe.