Copper

Copper deficiency symptoms:

Copper deficiency may cause fatigue, bradycardia, weakness, cachexia, and ataxia (5).

Copper deficiency treatment:

This requires supplementation for 4 weeks up to 3 months to reverse the symptoms and hematologic manifestations. The treatment of copper deficiency has not been standardized, but clinicians have treated patients successfully with copper chloride, copper sulfate, and copper gluconate at doses of elemental copper of 2 mg to 8 mg daily. Higher doses are generally used the first week and tapered weekly by 2 mg increments until a daily dose of 2 mg per day is reached which is continued long term. Dose may be further guided by clinical improvement as well as serum copper, ceruloplasmin, and 24-hour urine for copper excretion.