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An update on copper: contribution of MAFF‐funded research
Author(s) -
Buttriss Judy,
Hughes Joyce
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
nutrition bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 1467-3010
pISSN - 1471-9827
DOI - 10.1046/j.1467-3010.2000.00072.x
Subject(s) - agency (philosophy) , christian ministry , copper , agriculture , bioavailability , microbiology and biotechnology , food standards , medicine , biology , chemistry , political science , bioinformatics , food science , ecology , food safety , organic chemistry , law , philosophy , epistemology
This paper summarises the findings with respect to copper of the British Nutrition Foundation's recent review of the outcomes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's Optimal Nutrition Status research programme and identifies future research requirements. The typical human adult body contains approximately 100 mg of copper (Cu), the majority of which is tightly bound to about 30 enzymes and proteins. Cu is an essential transition element that plays a fundamental role in biochemistry by permitting the transfer of electrons in critical metabolic pathways. The paper provides an overview of current knowledge about the function, sources and habitual intakes of copper in the UK; absorption, bioavailability and metabolic regulation; and assessment or indicators of human copper status. Further research requirements to determine optimal nutrition status for copper were identified in the review and refined at a workshop of experts. These have been presented to the Food Standards Agency and are included in the paper.