MANIFESTATIONS OF COPPER EXCESS

Although copper is an essential micronutrient normally subject to effe ctive homeostatic control, excess dietary intakes can in some circumst ances be toxic. Susceptibility to copper toxicosis depends, however, o n many factors, including species, genetics, age, and diet. This appea rs to reflect not only variations in the efficiency of the absorption and excretion of copper but also differences in the intake of other he patotoxic or protective factors, differences in the cellular distribut ion of copper, and differences in the expression of specific copper tr ansport and storage proteins. Many of the toxic effects of copper, suc h as increased lipid peroxidation in cell membranes and DNA damage, ar e related to its role in the generation of oxygen free radicals.