Is copper causing your anxiety?

by | Sep 18, 2022 | HTMA

Is Copper causing your anxiety, energy, and hormonal issues?

Copper dysregulation has a profound impact on emotional, mental, and physical health. This is an increasing problem given our lifestyles today. Copper is more and more commonly found in foods and other parts of our environment. More of us are feeling even more stressed and our diets lack the minerals required to keep everything in balance.

In our clinic, we use a functional test called a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) to uncover the true status of all minerals in our client’s systems, including copper. Many clients have symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, ADHD, hair loss, insomnia, and hormonal (oestrogen) issues, to name a few. If you have any of these symptoms and more (see below), copper could be one of the main underlying issues causing these symptoms.

Copper dysregulation can be classified as either copper insufficiency (low), copper excess (high), or copper that is bio unavailable. Copper that is too low, too high or bio-unavailable, often have similar symptoms.

What are the main symptoms of copper dysregulation?

  • Anxiety and/or Depression
  • Oestrogen dominance
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency
  • Fatigue and Adrenal issues
  • Headaches or Migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Hair loss or greying hair
  • Iron deficiency
  • Yeast infections (candida)
  • Behavioural and Mood issues including ADHD


What causes Copper dysregulation?

  • Drinking water from unfiltered copper plumbing
  • Zinc deficiency – both copper and zinc have an antagonist relationship. Zinc is needed to form ceuroplasmin and metallothionein, both needed to bind to copper to carry it into the mitochondria. Zinc is mainly found in animal meats, so a diet low in meat will not be enough zinc. Diets high in processed foods are also low in zinc.
  • Mineral and Vitamin Deficiencies eg Vitamin C, B complex, iron, selenium, chromium, manganese and molybdenum can result in elevated copper in the body.
  • Adrenal fatigue or HPA axis dysfunction. In order for copper to be carried into the mitochondria where it will help form ATP, it must bind to both/either ceuroplasmin and metallothionein, which are only produced when the adrenal glands signal the liver to do so. A sluggish liver may also cause an increase in copper.
  • Birth control pill
  • Heavy metal toxicity – Metallothionein, one of the copper binding proteins attaches to heavy metals like mercury and cadmium, making it unavailable to transport copper
  • Xenoestrogens (endocrine disruptors) found in pesticides, plastics, cosmetics, personal care products, also increase retention of copper in the kidneys.
  • Genetics – If the mother had high levels of copper, this is carried across the placenta during pregnancy.
  • Pyroluria – a genetic disorder that results in a zinc and B6 deficiency. With the low levels of zinc, then copper builds up in excess.
  • Diet – A diet that is high in copper and low in zinc. Vegetarians are susceptible to copper toxicity due to a diet high in copper and low in zinc by nature.
  • Copper toxicity can also occur from copper cookware, swimming pools, medications, cigarette smoke and IUDs.


How to measure Copper Dysregulation in the body:

Assessing copper status can be a complex matter requiring the assistance of a skilled practitioner. There are a variety of methods that may be used which include the blood, hair, urine and stool. Your practitioner must understand how to interpret these results accurately, as it is not always a black and white situation.

To assess copper imbalance in the blood, it is essential to test three markers – plasma zinc, serum copper and Ceruoplasmin. All three markers must be tested to evaluate and monitor copper levels.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is a great functional test to assess the storage amount of copper and other minerals. HTMA also gives an accurate indication of your adrenals, your liver and detoxification pathways and other minerals that play a role in regulating copper. Strategies such as rebuilding mineral status, supporting detoxification pathways, supporting energy pathways such as the adrenals and thyroid will help prevent what is referred to as copper dumping.

What is copper dumping?

When copper is mobilized, it needs to exit via detoxification pathways, that is the liver and via the stool. For some clients they may experience detox like symptoms such as:

  • Headaches
  • Mood swings/Anxiety/Depression
  • Skin issues (the body’s biggest detox organ)
  • Fatigue (it requires a lot of energy to move copper)
  • Again, one should work very closely with a knowledgeable practitioner before and during the detoxification process.


What is the connection between Copper and Iron Deficiency?

Iron is an important mineral in the body and is important for the following functions:

  • Transport of oxygen around the body
  • Energy production
  • Formation of red blood cells

Within each cell in the body, there are approximately 1000-2000 mitochondria in the cells. The job of the mitochondria is to take oxygen into the cell and turn it into energy. The mitochondria requires copper in a bioavailable form to do this. Without copper, it increases inflammation in the body, which in turn increases oxidative stress and can lead to a disease state.

Similarly, a copper deficiency or bio unavailable copper can look like iron deficiency or anemia. A Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) can help you understand the bigger picture. Our body requires copper in the correct form to convert iron from ferrous form to ferric form in the gut. Without copper to carry iron into the cell, mild anemia can result.

As you can see from our discussion, copper, the right form of copper is important in the body. Assessing copper status is complex and requires the skills of a knowledgeable practitioner who understands copper dysregulation. The best approach is a holistic approach that takes into account all systems in the body working optimally.