Feel very depressed, fingernails and toenails very brittle. Hair loss. Hair is kinky, straw like. Pale skin. Insomnia. Suffer from copper deficiency.

50 yr old Male. No medical problems, except for chronic constipation since 22 yrs of age. Use Metamucil daily since. Used to take 30 mg Zn for while, lowered my Cu. Stopped Zn, and taken 2 mg Cu for past 6 months. Also eat alot of nuts, cashews, almonds, sesame seeds/paste (all high in Cu).

My Cu recovered from low end of range, to mid range. Went back to taking some Zn (15 mg) for one month. Tested both Zn and Cu. Zn normal. Cu bottom (borderline) of range! Also confirmed by CP (Ceruloplasmin), at end of low range (lowest number in lab range result).

Again, taken Cu supps, and foods, no Zn. Except for C 500 mg/ daily. Yet no effect on raising my Cu, whatsoever? What’s wrong here? I am sure that my body is full of Cu. But why it is not showing in Serum tests! Could it be: bio-unavailability? If so, what to do about it? My health is overall OK. But feel very depressed, fingernails and toenails very brittle. Hair loss. Hair is kinky, straw like. Pale skin. Insomnia.

Should mention: Fe is rock bottom. Ferittin low end of range! Never had such low figures before.

Please help, as I been researching all med sources, from Merck, Mayo, Medscape, etc. That I gained so much medical knowledge, yet can’t find answer to “why I am severely Cu deficient, why loading on so much Cu in both supp form, and natural foods”!

5 Comments on “Feel very depressed, fingernails and toenails very brittle. Hair loss. Hair is kinky, straw like. Pale skin. Insomnia. Suffer from copper deficiency.

  1. Too much zink can cause cu deficiency so reduce zink intake to increase your cu levels , also loading won t help
    You need month of regular intake to make a difference

    Also supplementary b12 and iron can improve cu absorbtion

    Good Luck

  2. hi
    get thyroid levels checked.
    rule out hormonal deficiencies.
    take vitamin and protein supplements.
    yoga and meditation will be helpful.
    thanks

  3. Im my opinion ..Your problem is about absorption ..taking vitamin B12 supplement can help absorption from gut..
    Proteins and soluble carbohydrates tend to improve copper absorption and bioavailability by enhancing its solubility and intestinal bulk flow. Organic acids, other than ascorbic acid, or agents that form low-molecular-weight chelates, are likely to have a positive effect on overall copper absorption.

  4. HI
    COPPER DEFICIENCY NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
    ALSO THERE SEEMS TO BE ASSOCIATED VITAMIN B6 DEFICENCY.
    VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS AND EATING GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES,FRUITS CAN HELP.

  5. hello there
    there seems to be a disturbance in zinc and copper metabolism.
    take injectable vitamin injections.
    apply hair nourishing scalp oils.
    vitamin E,codliver oils will have beneficial effects

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