Plasma Copper Status in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

Abstract

There has been inconsistent association between low copper (Cu) status and
hypercholesterolemia (Hypercholesterolemia is a known risk factor in coronary heart 
disease). Most of these earlier studies have been predominantly in experimental 
models; very few reports have examined human subjects. We investigated the
relationship between Cu status and hypercholesterolemia in human subjects and if 
this relationship is established it may be amenable to nutritional interventions. 
Seventy four (74) randomly selected plasma samples from patients on which
cholesterol (Chol) estimations had been previously performed were included. The 
plasma samples were classified into three (3) categories according to the cholesterol 
concentration based on the reference range at UCH, Ibadan as at the time of 
analysis. The study groups included the following, hypercholesterolemic group
(group1) (Chol level, > 250mg/dl), normocholesterolemic group (group2) (Chol level, 
150 = 250mg/dl); and hypocholesterolemic group (group 3) (Chol level, 87-
149mg/dl). The mean values of Cu in groups 1, 2, 3 were 103.39±8.58 µg/dl,
122.67±14.69µg/dl and 123.82±10.15µg/dl respectively. The mean concentration of 
Cu in hypercholesterolemia was significantly different from the
normocholesterolemia (p< 0.0001) and the hypocholesterolemia (p< 0.0001)
respectively. The plasma Cu level of the hypercholesterolemic group was the lowest; 
while the levels in the normocholesterolemic and the hypocholesterolemic groups 
were similar. The low level of Cu in the hypercholesterolemic group was significantly 
lower than the levels in groups 2and 3 (p<0.0001) in both cases. There was a 
significant inverse correlation between cholesterol and Cu levels (r = - 0.4909; p< 
0.0001). These data support some previous reports that hypercholesterolemia is
associated with decrease Cu status and this may be manipulated to control
hypercholesterolemia and associated disorders