Copper deficiency

[Becky]

Copper deficiency is rare among healthy people and occurs most commonly among infants who have other health problems or inherit a genetic abnormality.
Most of the copper in the body is located in the liver, bones, and muscle, but traces of copper occur in all tissues of the body. The liver excretes excess copper into the bile for elimination from the body. Copper is a component of many enzymes, including ones that are necessary for the following:

Energy production
Formation of red blood cells, bone, or connective tissue (which binds other tissues and organs together)
Antioxidant action (to help protect cells against damage by free radicals, which are reactive by-products of normal cell activity)

(See also Overview of Minerals.)
Copper deficiency may be acquired or inherited. It is rare among healthy people and occurs most commonly among infants who are

Premature
Recovering from severe undernutrition
Having persistent diarrhea

Some male infants inherit a genetic abnormality that causes copper deficiency. This disorder is called Menkes syndrome.
In adults, copper deficiency may be caused by

Disorders that impair absorption of nutrients (malabsorption disorders, such as celiac disease, Crohn disease, cystic fibrosis, or tropical sprue)
Weight-loss (bariatric) surgery
Consumption of too much zinc, which reduces the absorption of copper

[Ernesto]

Copper is a component of many body proteins; almost all of the body’s copper is bound to copper proteins.

Copper deficiency may be acquired or inherited. (See also Overview of Mineral Deficiency and Toxicity.)