Copper in nuts may lower heart disease risk.

• Date posted:  01/01/1993 
• Posted In:
• Mixed Nuts,
• Cardiovascular Health,

Klevay, L.M., 1993.  Copper in nuts may lower heart disease risk. Arch Intern Med. 153: 401-2.

In this commentary on the Seventh-Day Adventist study, the author discuses the fact that nuts are relatively high in copper and that this may provide protection against a variety of disorders related to atherosclerosis.  Copper deficiency is the only nutritional insult that has been shown to produce abnormal electrocardiograms, glucose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperuricemia, injury by free radicals and thrombosis in animals.  More than 31 men and women have responded to diets low in copper with potentially harmful changes in glucose tolerance, blood pressure, blood lipids and electrocardiograms.  Copper in these daily diets ranged from 0.65 to 1.02 mg amounts.  Eating an ounce of nuts can add approximately 0.37 mg of copper to daily intakes.