jads

Member

Total Posts: 47

Member Since:
July 2010

August 21, 2010, 08:56 PM

Guys, has anyone looked into the role a copper inbalance plays in hair loss?  Maybe immortal has some thoughts to share on this?

On one hand you have copper peptide solutions promoted as good for rebuilding the skin structure to support healthy hair growth; and the other, suggesting that too much copper is a factor in actual hair loss.

Some time ago I did a hair analysis (TMA) and one of the findings was that my hair copper levels were elevated, however I had been trying folligen so this was likely a factor in the level recorded.

The metal copper controls hair growth and hair loss. Healthy tissue concentrations of copper lie between 1.7 and 3.5 milligrams. Everything else will cause hair loss. You can have too little copper (below 1.7 milligrams) or too much copper (above 3.5 milligrams) and the same thing will happen: kiss your hair good-bye.

Individuals metabolize copper at different rates, making copper toxicity or deficiency a personal affair. The slower your metabolic rate, the higher your copper retention, regardless of how copper gets into your system. The reverse is also true. If your metabolism works at mach speed, not much copper will accumulate, no matter the amount of copper you ingest.

In my experience, almost 90 percent of the copper imbalances are on the toxic side. How do you get too much copper? Drinking water is one source. If your area has “hard” water, it can play a role in copper toxicity.

Women are more likely to have too much copper because they probably use some form of birth control. Birth control pills and the IUD both use copper. The problem is intensified if your mother used the pill or an IUD. Then you may have been born with too much copper to start with.

I-Head

New Member

Total Posts: 19

Member Since:
August 2010

[ # 1 ]

August 30, 2010, 06:22 AM

Good Post,

on the advice following a mineral analysis, i take a copper supplement orally (once per day) and topically (twice per day).

So far my personal research suggests that it is one of the more beneficial supplements for our common goal. However, i would be interested to know of how to be a good judge of “how much is too much?”, more to the point, whether i am taking too much???

I’m a believer in maintaining the right balance of vitamins and minerals to maintain both a healthy body, and a great scalp.

scottyc33

Editor

Total Posts: 136

Member Since:
May 2010

[ # 2 ]

August 31, 2010, 10:46 AM

jads - August 21, 2010, 08:56 PM

Guys, has anyone looked into the role a copper inbalance plays in hair loss?  Maybe immortal has some thoughts to share on this?

On one hand you have copper peptide solutions promoted as good for rebuilding the skin structure to support healthy hair growth; and the other, suggesting that too much copper is a factor in actual hair loss.

Some time ago I did a hair analysis (TMA) and one of the findings was that my hair copper levels were elevated, however I had been trying folligen so this was likely a factor in the level recorded.

The metal copper controls hair growth and hair loss. Healthy tissue concentrations of copper lie between 1.7 and 3.5 milligrams. Everything else will cause hair loss. You can have too little copper (below 1.7 milligrams) or too much copper (above 3.5 milligrams) and the same thing will happen: kiss your hair good-bye.

Individuals metabolize copper at different rates, making copper toxicity or deficiency a personal affair. The slower your metabolic rate, the higher your copper retention, regardless of how copper gets into your system. The reverse is also true. If your metabolism works at mach speed, not much copper will accumulate, no matter the amount of copper you ingest.

In my experience, almost 90 percent of the copper imbalances are on the toxic side. How do you get too much copper? Drinking water is one source. If your area has “hard” water, it can play a role in copper toxicity.

In many cases, copper water pipes are the culprit. They are common in older homes. If you see a bluish green discoloration on your porcelain plumbing fixtures, I’ll bet the ranch you have copper pipes.

Copper also enters the food chain through foods you buy at the grocery store. Feed lots add copper to the animals’ diet. The mineral remains in the flesh that you eat. Farmers also use copper to spray vegetables and grains to prevent fungus and algae growth.

Women are more likely to have too much copper because they probably use some form of birth control. Birth control pills and the IUD both use copper. The problem is intensified if your mother used the pill or an IUD. Then you may have been born with too much copper to start with.

I’m pretty sure taking a zinc supplement will help if you have too much copper.

There is a product called OptiZinc by NOW Foods on Iherb that’s pretty good.

jdp710

Editor

Total Posts: 163

Member Since:
January 2010

[ # 3 ]

August 31, 2010, 11:29 AM

FWIW, a quote in my notes referring to Andy Cutler info, “So always supplement both [copper and zinc] and NEVER use only Zinc if Hg toxic, no faster way to get it into the brain than by using Zinc only.”

Mastery

Member

Total Posts: 219

Member Since:
June 2010

[ # 4 ]

September 06, 2010, 12:35 AM

I agree with jdp; many minerals work in antagonistic pairs Better formulations have a good ratio of zn to Cu. Jarrow being one..

jads

Member

Total Posts: 47

Member Since:
July 2010

[ # 5 ]

September 18, 2010, 11:17 PM

Thanks for that guys. Bit late on the reply, sorry.

There appears to be a strong correlation between high copper levels and estrogen dominance. Pretty interesting I think. It’s slowly starting to give me a clearer picture of some things I need checked out. That is, copper and estrogen levels! I have routinely eaten a good amount of copper laden foods such as nuts, avocado, a bit of chocolate and the list goes on. The hair analysis showed good zinc levels and ratio between the two so zinc deficiency is not necessarily the issue for me. 

I may be joining a few dots and be off base with this, but I’m betting a hormone panel is going to show elevated estrogen and low free T - and copper has played it’s part in a small or not so small way

As a side note, for some time my sister had a chronic issue with her liver making her quite ill. Specialists were at a loss to know what to do about. (Copper is mostly stored in the liver)  As they were about to do some nasty procedure on her try and sort out the problem, she sought a second opinion from an integrative GP - you guessed it -  Copper toxicity caused by her IUD for birth control.  I’ve read this is rife among women and commonly goes undiagnosed.

The Zix Creator

Editor

Total Posts: 511

Member Since:
January 2010

[ # 6 ]

September 19, 2010, 03:17 PM

As a side note, for some time my sister had a chronic issue with her liver making her quite ill. Specialists were at a loss to know what to do about. (Copper is mostly stored in the liver)  As they were about to do some nasty procedure on her try and sort out the problem, she sought a second opinion from an integrative GP - you guessed it -  Copper toxicity caused by her IUD for birth control.  I’ve read this is rife among women and commonly goes undiagnosed.

Yea you’ve got to be a little careful with copper. I recently saw an article where many multiple vitamin manufacturers are eliminationg copper form their multi vitamin. Reason being many people already are getting enough copper from the copper pipes used in their plumbling.

I don’t think this would apply if you’re drinking most bottled water though.

The Zix Creator

Editor

Total Posts: 511

Member Since:
January 2010

[ # 7 ]

September 19, 2010, 03:20 PM

As a side note, for some time my sister had a chronic issue with her liver making her quite ill.

Hey jads. By any chance did you happen to notice if your sister had a golden brownish ring around her pupil? This is a symptom of copper toxicity but I’ve never seen it in real life.

jads

Member

Total Posts: 47

Member Since:
July 2010

[ # 8 ]

September 19, 2010, 08:28 PM

Zix, I couldn’t tell you if she had that. What I can say is that I have a few small brown spots - a bit like sun spots - on my legs and one on my face that are apparently a sign of the liver depositing excess copper into the skin. Something to look for perhaps.

I’m on bottled water at home now as my plumbing is riddled with copper!  I chelated copper plus other metals a while back with a product called Bio Chelat. Made a marked difference to the appearance of my hair at the time.