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A Quantitative Study, by Means of Spectrographic Analysis, of Copper in Nutrition¹

Two Figures

Iowa Child Welfare Research Station, State University of Iowa, Iowa City

Thirty-five copper balance studies have been made with three normal preschool age boys. The spectra of the ash of food, feces, urine, distilled water and acid-alcohol were compared with those produced by solutions of known copper content and the retentions calculated.

The daily urinary copper excretion was fairly constant for a given child, averaging 4% of the ingested copper.

Fifteen to 58% of the ingested copper was excreted by the way of the alimentary tract.

The lowest copper retentions occurred with the lowest copper intakes, while the highest retention, 0.058 mg., was obtained with an ingestion which was close to the maximum level of copper consumed, namely 0.084 mg. per kilogram of body weight. Since higher retentions did not occur with the higher ingestions tested, it is concluded that between 0.053 and 0.085 mg. of copper per kilogram of weight are required by boys between the ages of 3 and 6 years.

Manuscript received 23 May 1938.