Copper recommended daily allowance

Since the zinc-copper ratio is important, intake of too much zinc can lead to symptoms of copper deficiency. However, patients have taken 10 times the recommended daily allowance for zinc with no adverse reaction. 

Generally, seaweed contains high ash content indicating appreciable amounts of minerals. Mineral content of seaweed can account for up to 36% of its dry mass and mineral macronutrients include sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, chlorine, sulfur, and phosphorus whereas the micronutrients include iodine, iron, zinc, copper, selenium, molybdenum, fluoride, manganese, boron, nickel, and cobalt. Among these minerals, calcium holds 4-7% of dry matter. At 7% calcium, a t) ical daily portion size of seaweed (8 g dry weight) provides 560 mg of calcium which is a considerable amount compared to its recommended daily allowance (800-1000 mg) (Anonymous, 2004). In seaweeds, calcium is available as calcium phosphate, and that is more bioavailable than the form of calcium in milk, which is calcium carbonate. 

Interestingly, seaweed contains considerably high amoimts of iron and copper compared to food sources renowned to contain those minerals such as, meat and spinach (Holland et ah, 1993). In addition, a normal portion size of brown seaweed, which includes species such as Laminaria and Undaria, provides more than 50% of the recommended daily allowance of magnesium. Therefore, seaweed can be used as a food supplement to fulfill most of the important mineral requirements of the body. 

The sources of copper in these 6-year-old twins diet other than meals included AdvoCare Spark Energy Drink, chocolate milk and Flints tones brand multivitamins. He was consuming a total of 9088 mg per day of copper, approximately 21 times the recommended daily allowance for their age [90 ]. 

RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE OF COPPER. The estimated copper requirement of man is based on balance studies. On the basis of such studies, and in order to allow for a margin of safety, the National Academy of Sciences- National Research Council, recommends a daily copper intake of 1.5 to 3 mg for adults. The requirement for infants and children has been estimated at between 0.4 and 2.0 mg per day. It is emphasized, however, that intake of copper at this level may be too low for the premature infant, who is always born with low copper reserves. It is suggested that infant bottle formulas contain sufficient copper to furnish 100 micrograms/kg of body weight per day. 

The Tolerable Upper Intake Limit (UL) for adults is 10 mg daily, based on degree of liver damage associated with intake. UL for children vary with age 1-3 years/1 mg daily, 4—8 years/3 mg daily, 9-13 years/ 5 mg daily, 14—18years/8mg daily (irrespective of pregnancy or lactation status). UL for children imder the age of 1 year are not possible to establish. There are no official recommended daily allowances (RDAs) for copper in children. The RDA for adult males and females is a daily intake of 0.9 mg. Measurements of the dietary requirements for copper in adult men have shovm the requirement to range from about 1.0 to 1.6 mg daily. A review of nutrient intakes in the US from 1909 to 1994 confirms... 

Humans given zinc supplements should be aware of possible complications (Fosmire 1990). Low intakes of 100 to 300 mg of zinc daily in excess of the recommended dietary allowance of 15 mg Zn daily may produce induced copper deficiency, impaired immune function, and disrupted blood lipid profiles. Patients treated with zinc supplements (150 mg daily) to control sickle cell anemia and nonresponsive celiac disease developed a severe copper deficiency in 13 to 23 months normal copper status was restored by cessation of zinc supplements and increased dietary copper (Fosmire 1990). 

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