Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd. Copper Toxicity By Dr. Paul C. Eck and Dr. Larry Wilson Table Of Contents Introduction.....................................................................................................................................1 Sources Of Copper .........................................................................................................................1 Environmental Copper...............................................................................................................1 Copper Water Pipes...................................................................................................................1 Copper Cookware......................................................................................................................1 Drinking Water Contaminated With Copper.............................................................................1 Birth Control Pills and Copper Intrauterine Devices ................................................................1 Vitamin and Mineral Supplements............................................................................................1 Fungicides for Swimming Pools and Foods..............................................................................1 Vegetarianism and Other High-Copper Diets ...........................................................................2 Occupational Exposure..............................................................................................................2 Dental Appliances......................................................................................................................2 Adrenal Gland Exhaustion and Copper Toxicity ......................................................................2 Zinc Deficiency and Copper Toxicity .......................................................................................2 Congenital Copper Imbalance ...................................................................................................2 The Copper Personality .............................................................................................................2 Detection Of Copper Imbalance .....................................................................................................2 Blood Tests................................................................................................................................2 Hair Analysis .............................................................................................................................3 Indicators For Hidden Copper on a Hair Analysis ....................................................................3 Metabolism Of Copper....................................................................................................................3 Absorption .................................................................................................................................3 Retention....................................................................................................................................3 Excretion....................................................................................................................................3 Metabolic Effects Of Copper ..........................................................................................................3 i Metabolic Dysfunctions Associated With Copper Imbalance........................................................4 Acne .....................................................................................................................................4 Adreno-Cortical Hyperactivity ............................................................................................4 Adrenal hypertrophy ............................................................................................................4 Adrenal Insufficiency...........................................................................................................4 Agoraphobia.........................................................................................................................4 Allergies...............................................................................................................................4 Alopecia (hair loss) ..............................................................................................................4 Androgens ............................................................................................................................4 Anemia.................................................................................................................................4 Anxiety.................................................................................................................................4 Arthritis ................................................................................................................................4 Autism..................................................................................................................................4 Calcium Level, Elevated......................................................................................................5 Cancer and High Tissue Copper ..........................................................................................5 Cancer and Low Tissue Copper...........................................................................................5 Candida Albicans (Yeast) Infections ...................................................................................5 Ceruloplasmin Levels, Elevated ..........................................................................................5 Cholesterol, Elevated ...........................................................................................................5 Clinical Syndromes..............................................................................................................5 Cystic Fibrosis......................................................................................................................5 Depression, Mental ..............................................................................................................5 Diabetes................................................................................................................................5 Dysinsulinism.......................................................................................................................5 Estrogen Levels, Elevated....................................................................................................6 'Failure To Thrive' Syndrome ..............................................................................................6 Fears .....................................................................................................................................6 Fractures, Bone ....................................................................................................................6 Headaches, Migraine............................................................................................................6 Heart Attacks........................................................................................................................6 Heavy Metal Toxicity ..........................................................................................................6 Hemorrhaging ......................................................................................................................6 Hodgkin's Disease................................................................................................................6 Hyperactivity, Childhood.....................................................................................................6 Hypertension ........................................................................................................................6 Hypoglycemia ......................................................................................................................6 Hypothyroidism ...................................................................................................................6 Infections..............................................................................................................................6 Inflammation........................................................................................................................7 Iron Storage Diseases...........................................................................................................7 Kidney Disorders .................................................................................................................7 Lead Toxicity .......................................................................................................................7 Libido (Decreased)...............................................................................................................7 Liver Detoxification And Dysfunctions...............................................................................7 Metabolic Dysfunctions .......................................................................................................7 Multiple Sclerosis ................................................................................................................7 Myocardial Infarction: High Serum Copper Levels And Use of the Birth Control Pill......7 ii Nervousness .........................................................................................................................8