What you need to know about copper
Copper is a mineral that we need in order to absorb iron, for our heart to function normally, and for our brains and nervous systems to work right. Copper deficiency is pretty rare in the general population, but for RNY folks, with malabsorption, I’m not sure any vitamin or mineral deficiencies are rare.
Most multivitamins contain copper, though most gummy vites don’t, which is just one of many reasons not to take those.
The RDA of copper is 900 mcg and we are supposed to have two times the RDA of stuff, so we need 1800 mcg a day. Some vitamins have some copper but not that much, so read the label on your vitamin and see.
The most common symptom of copper deficiency is iron deficiency that does not respond well to treatment by increasing iron intake. If your copper is low, you can take all the iron you want and your iron numbers won’t come up much.
Some docs don’t routinely check our copper levels for some reason, so when you get labs done, make sure that one gets ordered.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
