Sunflower copper

Kayser-Fleischer corneal ring (B. Kayser, 1902 B. Fleischer, 1903) occurs in Wilson s disease. It has also been observed in alcoholic liver disease. (47) Deposits of copper compounds form a brownish green comeal ring of 1 - 3 mm in width near the limbus. It can be identified at an early stage by slit-lamp examination, (s. fig. 4.17) Individual radiating, greenish brown sunflower cataracts are sporadically detectable in Wilson s disease. 

Copper helps form red blood cells and connective tissues. Copper is a cofactor enzyme that initiates metabolic reactions in the body. Copper is necessary to produce norepinephrine and dopamine (neurotransmitters). Copper is absorbed in the intestine. Foods rich in copper are shellfish (crabs and oysters), liver, nuts, seeds (sunflower, sesame), legumes, and cocoa. Copper deficiency results in anemia, causes decreased hair and skin pigmentation, decreased white blood count, intolerance to glucose, and mental retardation in young patients. Excess serum levels of copper indicate Wilson s disease, which results in the accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, cornea, and kidney. 

Incidental copper foreign body in the eye (chalosis hulhi) may result in sunflower cataract or even lead to the loss of the eye (Rosen 1949). 

Because copper has only two stable isotopes, only one tracer isotope is available, which limits the choice of techniques for metabolic studies substantially. In most human studies, Cu has been used to determine apparent absorption, as the difference between the amount of isotope ingested and the amount recovered in feces. To check for completeness of fecal collection, holmium has been suggested and successfully used as a non-absorbable, quantitative elemental marker in copper absorption studies [259]. Studies comparing copper absorption of foods intrinsically or extrinsicaUy labeled with Cu are limited. Johnson and co-workers [260, 261] found no statistically significant difference in copper absorption from intrinsically and extrinsicaUy labeled goose fiver, goose breast, peanut butter, and wheat. Harvey et al. [262] observed significant differences in copper absorption between intrinsically and extrinsicaUy labeled sunflower seeds and soy beans. 

Johnson, P.E., Stuart, M.A., Hunt, J.R., Mullen, L, and Starks, T.L. (1988) Copper absorption by women fed intrinsically and extrinsically labeled goose meat, goose liver, peanut butter and sunflower butter. J. Nutr., 118, 1522-1528. 

Sunflower seeds—Although many Americans formerly considered this chewy product to be best suited for feeding birds, it is now sold as a snack food. The seeds keep well without refrigeration, because of their protective outer covering. Their content of copper and iron, along with protein and vitamins, makes them a much better snack item than popcorn, potato chips, and sweets. Some health food stores carry sunflower seed butter and sunflower seed meal but these items sometimes have a bitter taste, which may be due to rancidity that develops when the seed is crushed and the oil exposed to the air. 

Peroxides—The highly polyunsaturated fatty acids that are abundantly present in corn, cottonseed, safflower, soybean, and sunflower oils may be oxidized to toxic peroxides when exposed to air, heat, light, and metals such as copper and iron. Also, the long reuse of frying fats that have been overheated repeatedly is likely to result in the production of peroxides and other toxic substances. 

Applying these methods, that were a little modified, we made the measurements of iron, copper and zinc from the acidic solutions. For determination of lead and cadmium, we carried out an extraction with MIBK, while using APDC, too. The preparation of sunflower seed, meal and hull was made by means of wet destruction according to the prescriptions of the Hungarian Standard MSZ 3612/1-76. 

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