Copper helps burn fat

All content is checked by medical journalists.

Metals play an important role in the human body: as a component of enzymes, in metabolic processes or as signal substances. Scientists have now discovered another key role for copper: The metal regulates an important way of burning fat. Could Copper-Containing Foods Be the Perfect Diet Tip?

“It has been found that the amount of copper in cattle feed has an impact on how fat the meat becomes,” says Christopher Chang of the University of California at Berkeley. This gave the scientist the idea to investigate more closely what molecular connection there might be between copper and lipid metabolism.

Inhibition of an enzyme

Together with his team, he examined mice that stored a particularly large amount of copper in the liver due to a genetic mutation. Your metabolic disease, which also occurs in humans, is known as Wilson's disease. The increased copper level in the animals' blood also ensured that the rodents stored less fat compared to healthy control mice.

Chang and his colleagues examined the Wilson's disease mice more closely and found out exactly where in the lipid metabolism copper intervenes: The metal inhibits an enzyme that breaks down the signaling substance cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate). This means that those who take in a lot of copper have more cAMP in their body and this stimulates fat burning. “This is possibly why a copper deficiency often plays a role in obesity and diabetes,” speculates Chang.

Leaf salads with oysters

Increased copper intake could be a natural way to burn more fat, the scientist said. Even so, Chang advises against food supplements containing copper. "Too much copper leads to an imbalance with other trace elements in the body, such as zinc." It is better to use natural copper suppliers, because the risk of overdosing is low. The metal is found in oysters, other shellfish, green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, seeds, nuts and beans, for example.

Further studies have yet to show exactly how much copper you have to consume in order to achieve an optimal fat-burning effect. The Food and Nutrition Board's current recommendation is 700 micrograms (millionths of a gram) per day.

By the way, copper takes on other important tasks in the body: It is necessary for the structure of red blood cells and plays a role in the immune system. Recent studies have shown that it also helps nerve cells in the brain communicate with one another. (away)

Source: Chang C. J. et al .: Copper regulates cyclic-AMP-dependent lipolysis, Nature Chemical Biology, 2016, DOI: 10.1038 / nchembio.2098

Tags:  palliative medicine Baby Child anatomy