Aliabadi Hamidreza
Duke University, Division of Neurosurgery, DUMC Box 3807, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Med Hypotheses. 2008;70(6):1163-6. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2007.09.019. Epub 2008 Jan 4.
Copper deficiency plays a vital role in atherogenesis. To the long list of risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease should be added the deleterious interaction between copper deficiency and carbohydrate consumption. Here we critically evaluate the role of copper in the diet and its role as a possible etiological factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. A possible mechanism for the development of heart disease due to copper deficiency is proposed. There are many known risk factors for the development of heart disease, including hyperlipidemia and hypertension; however, little emphasis has been placed on the role of copper on heart disease. Over the last couple of decades, dietary copper deficiency has been shown to cause a variety of metabolic changes, including hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, and glucose intolerance. Interestingly, these changes are common in the United States population and they are known risk factors for heart disease. Further research in this field is warranted considering the profound implications to people in the United States and around the world who consume processed foods marginally deficient in copper and replete with sugar. The only nutritional condition with signs and symptoms of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease may be copper deficiency. Improving levels of copper in the diet, by appropriate food selection or by addition of a daily multi-vitamin, is recommended.
铜缺乏在动脉粥样硬化形成中起着至关重要的作用。在动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病的众多危险因素清单中，应加入铜缺乏与碳水化合物摄入之间的有害相互作用。在此，我们批判性地评估饮食中铜的作用及其作为心血管疾病发展中可能病因的作用。提出了因铜缺乏导致心脏病发展的一种可能机制。心脏病发展有许多已知的危险因素，包括高脂血症和高血压；然而，很少有人重视铜在心脏病中的作用。在过去几十年中，饮食铜缺乏已被证明会引起多种代谢变化，包括高胆固醇血症、高甘油三酯血症、高血压和葡萄糖不耐受。有趣的是，这些变化在美国人群中很常见，并且它们是已知的心脏病危险因素。考虑到对美国及全球食用铜含量微缺且富含糖分的加工食品的人群有深远影响，该领域值得进一步研究。唯一具有动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病体征和症状的营养状况可能是铜缺乏。建议通过适当的食物选择或添加每日多种维生素来提高饮食中的铜含量。
