Why Is Cupric Sulfate in Vitamins?

Copper in mineral form

Cupric sulfate or copper sulfate is commonly added to over-the-counter dietary supplement products such as minerals and vitamins. Copper is an essential trace mineral in humans, animals and higher plant forms. A person with a normal metabolism obtains an adequate amount of copper through a diet including meat, beans, seafood, and nuts and from water that has passed through copper piping or boiled in copper cooking utensils.

Identification

Copper used in dietary supplements are in forms that aid in bio-availability of the mineral. Bio-availability is the amount of unchanged chemical that reaches the systemic circulation or how many particles are absorbed into the bloodstream after being ingested. It may be provided labeled in the form of copper, cupric sulfate, copper sulfate, Cu, or copper (II) sulfate. Cupric sulfate by itself is a white powder, but when water is added, it forms the bright blue copper sulfate pentahydrate solution.

Mechanisms of Action

Multi-vitamins in tablet form

Copper is involved with many significant biochemical events within human cells. Ingested copper is absorbed in the intestine, bound to albumin and transported to the liver. It binds with as many as 50 different enzymes and is carried through the bloodstream on a plasma protein called ceruloplasmin. As cuproenzymes, they are involved with hemoglobin production, gene expression regulation, connective tissue formation and are vital to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) system, which provides the human body's primary source of energy.

Significance

To maintain health and continuous cellular growth, the human body requires trace amounts of copper in the diet. It aids in the body's absorption, storage and metabolism of iron in the blood, which transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It can also act as an antioxidant. Other functions of copper are to produce collagen, myelin and melanin. Collagen allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Myelin is involved in nervous system activities. Melanin plays a major role in the color pigmentation of the eyes, skin and hair.

Considerations

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) standards is a system of nutrition recommendations from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Most manufacturers provide 2 micrograms per dose which is 100 percent of RDA recommendations.
Current recommendations from MayoClinic.com are:
Infants and children--
o Birth to 3 years of age: 0.4 to 1 milligram (mg) per day.
o 4 to 6 years of age: 1 to 1.5 mg per day.
o 7 to 10 years of age: 1 to 2 mg per day.
Adolescent and adult males--.5 to 2.5 mg per day.
Adolescent and adult females--.5 to 3 mg per day.

The Linus Pauling Institute of Oregon State University states that copper toxicity is rare and that "in generally healthy individuals, doses of up to 10,000 mcg (10 mg) daily have not resulted in liver damage."

Precautions & Warnings

Studies have shown that high intakes of iron, zinc or manganese can interfere with copper absorption. Consult with your physician regularly regarding all your medications, dietary supplements and natural remedies, as adverse interactions can occur.

References

• American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Human Whole-Body Copper Metabolism
• Mayo Clinic: Copper Supplement (Oral Route, Parenteral Route)
• Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute: Copper