Table 1.

Benefits of copper supplementation in humans

Study population	Dose of copper	Results
16 healthy young women78	3 or 6 mg of copper sulfate per day	Significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity in red blood cells. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 was significantly reduced (p<0.05) by about 30% after supplementation with 6 mg copper per day. ‘Increased Cu intake could reduce the risk of CVD and atherosclerosis in man by promoting improved fibrinolytic capacity’78
60 patients with stable moderate hypertension87	5 mg of copper sulfate per day	Blood pressure was significantly reduced in those treated with copper (p<0.05) with no significant changes in control patients It was estimated that 62% of study participants were marginally copper deficient The study authors concluded that even mild copper deficiency could result in ‘functional alteration in human blood pressure’87
73 hyperlipidemic subjects15	5 mg of copper sulfate per day	Significant decreases in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and a slight increment in HDL 38% of the study participants were estimated to be marginally copper deficient

CVD, cardiovascular disease; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein.