Changes

==Why is it Important?==

==Why is it Important?==

Copper has many physiological functions. It is an '''essential component of a number of enzymes that catalyse oxidation reactions'''. It is also involved in '''iron metabolism, energy metabolism''' and the '''formation of normal hair colour'''.

Copper has many physiological functions. It is an '''essential component of a number of enzymes that catalyse oxidation reactions'''. It is also involved in '''iron metabolism, energy metabolism''' and the '''formation of normal [[Hair - Anatomy & Physiology|hair]] colour'''.

==Roles in the Body==

==Roles in the Body==

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Copper Deficiency====

====Recognised Syndromes Related to Copper Deficiency====

#'''Decreased weight gain and low liver concentration''': Doong et al. found that kittens fed less than 4 mg/kg DM dietary copper showed signs of copper deficiency that included decreased growth rate and reduced concentrations of copper in the liver but no other consistent clinical signs<ref>Doong, G, Keen, C, Rogers, QR, Morris, JG, Rucker, R (1983). “Selected features of copper metabolism in the cat”. J. Nutr. 113:1963-1971. </ref>.

#'''Decreased weight gain and low liver concentration''': Doong ''et al''. found that kittens fed less than 4 mg/kg DM dietary copper showed signs of copper deficiency that included decreased growth rate and reduced concentrations of copper in the liver but no other consistent clinical signs<ref>Doong, G, Keen, C, Rogers, QR, Morris, JG, Rucker, R (1983). “Selected features of copper metabolism in the cat”. J. Nutr. 113:1963-1971. </ref>.

#'''Effects on reproduction''': In adult female cats fed low dietary copper levels (3 or 6 mg/kg DM as cupric sulphate) had an effect on reproductive efficiency, increasing the time for successful conception compared with control cats fed copper at 10 mg/kg diet. However pregnancy rates were unaffected<ref name="Fascetti">Fascetti, AJ, Morris, JG, Rogers, QR (1998). “Dietary copper influences reproductive efficiency of queens”. J Nutr. 128:2590S-2592S.</ref><ref>Fascetti, AJ, Rogers, QR, Morris, JG (2000). “Dietary copper influences reproduction in cats”. J Nutr. 130:1287-1290.</ref>. This study also reported that, plasma copper levels, unlike liver copper content, did not reflect dietary copper intake.  

#'''Effects on reproduction''': In adult female cats fed low dietary copper levels (3 or 6 mg/kg DM as cupric sulphate) had an effect on reproductive efficiency, increasing the time for successful conception compared with control cats fed copper at 10 mg/kg diet. However pregnancy rates were unaffected<ref name="Fascetti">Fascetti, AJ, Morris, JG, Rogers, QR (1998). “Dietary copper influences reproductive efficiency of queens”. J Nutr. 128:2590S-2592S.</ref><ref>Fascetti, AJ, Rogers, QR, Morris, JG (2000). “Dietary copper influences reproduction in cats”. J Nutr. 130:1287-1290.</ref>. This study also reported that, plasma copper levels, unlike liver copper content, did not reflect dietary copper intake.

==Toxicity==

==Toxicity==

==Dietary Sources==

==Dietary Sources==

Copper is found in reasonable amounts in some cereal sources such as '''soya flour and wheat germ meal'''. The best animal source is '''liver''', especially beef or lambs’ liver. There are moderate amounts in some meat meals. However, to ensure adequate dietary contents, manufactured dog and cat foods are usually supplemented with inorganic copper salts such as cupric sulphate, cupric carbonate and cupric chloride. Copper chelates of amino acids such as [[Lysine - Nutrition|lysine]] are also good sources of bioavailable copper. However, '''cupric oxide is not suitable as a source of dietary copper for dogs and cats'''. In one study where adult cats were fed a diet containing cupric oxide as the supplement they showed clear signs of copper inadequacy, even though the dietary copper content was identical to an adequate diet where the copper was supplied by cupric sulphate<ref name="Fascetti"/>.

Copper is found in reasonable amounts in some cereal sources such as '''soya flour and wheat germ meal'''. The best animal source is '''liver''', especially beef or lambs’ liver. There are moderate amounts in some meat meals. However, to ensure adequate dietary contents, manufactured dog and cat foods are usually supplemented with inorganic copper salts such as cupric sulphate, cupric carbonate and cupric chloride. Copper chelates of amino acids such as [[Lysine - Nutrition|lysine]] are also good sources of [[Nutrition Glossary#Bioavailability|bioavailable]] copper. However, '''cupric oxide is not suitable as a source of dietary copper for dogs and cats'''. In one study where adult cats were fed a diet containing cupric oxide as the supplement they showed clear signs of copper inadequacy, even though the dietary copper content was identical to an adequate diet where the copper was supplied by cupric sulphate<ref name="Fascetti"/>.

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Minerals in Nutrition]]

[[Category:Minerals in Nutrition]]