Copper Transport and Ceruloplasmin During Lactation and Pregnancy

Abstract

It is well known that several trace elements, and particularly copper and iron, accumulate in the liver of the fetus during the last part of pregnancy (Figure 1) (Linder and Munro, 1974; Linder, 1991). Indeed, at the time of birth, the concentrations of these elements are at much higher levels than at any other time in the normal course of life (Table 1). These trace element accumulations seem to be important for the first part of life during which the newborn’ only food is the milk. Concentrations of copper (and particularly iron) in milk are relatively low, in comparison to what is present in other foodstuffs: about 0.3–0.6 ug Cu/ml in cow and human milk versus about 0.7–2.2 ug Cu/g in meats, fish, vegetables and fruits, and much higher levels in whole grains (in the range of 2.8–20 ug Cu/g) (Linder, 1991). Moreover, liver concentrations of copper (as well as iron and zinc) fall dramatically during the suckling period (Figure 1; Table 1), indicating that these prenatal stores are used in support of the growth of the suckling infant.