Copper & Anxiety

Copper and Anxiety

• Copper blocks GABA receptors
• Copper oxidizes Serotonin

The article Copper & Adrenal Fatigue explained how chronic stress leads to an accumulation of toxins, including copper.

When your body is dealing with chronic stress, detoxification slows down, which leads to a gradual accumulation of copper.

However, elevated copper creates stress and anxiety, which sets up a bit of a loop.

Here is a quote from a 2011 study:

  In this preliminary study, individuals with anxiety had significantly higher plasma levels of Cu (copper)⁶.

There are a few studies that explain the connection between copper, anxiety and stress.

Copper Blocks GABA Receptors

• GABA is a calming neurotransmitter

GABA is a neurotransmitter. Like Serotonin, it is an inhibitory neurotransmitter², which means it calms the nervous system.

Copper has been shown to block GABA receptors ^1,3.

GABA has an important role to play in calming your nervous system and preventing anxiety^4,5.

  One of the most widely accepted mediators known to play a central role in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders is the g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system ⁵.

So to summarize:

Increased Copper --causes--> Blocked GABA receptors --causes--> Anxiety.

Copper Oxidizes Serotonin

• Serotonin is another calming (inhibitory) neurotransmitter
• Copper oxidizes Serotonin

Serotonin is another calming neurotransmitter. As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, Serotonin has role to play in the control of anxiety⁸.

Copper has been shown to oxidize serotonin⁷.

  These results indicate that copper structurally alters serotonin and this process may play a role in copper related neurodegenerative diseases ⁷

There are two problems with this:

1. Serotonin is changed and will not be able to do it's part in controlling anxiety.
2. Partially oxidized serotonin has neurotoxic effects.

Summary

Elevated copper may be a key reason for persistent anxiety for those with adrenal fatigue.

If you embark on a copper detox protocol, you may find that anxiety will get worse for a while as copper comes out of storage (I did).

By the way .... I have found Coffee Enemas to be very helpful. They greatly reduce detox symptoms by stimulating the release of toxic bile.

References

1. High-affinity copper block of GABA(A) receptor-mediated currents in acutely isolated cerebellar Purkinje cells of the rat
2. Gaba
3. Interaction between copper and zinc at GABA(A) receptors in acutely isolated cerebellar Purkinje cells of the rat.
4. The role of GABA in anxiety disorders
5. The role of GABA in the pathophysiology and treatment of anxiety disorders
6. Decreased zinc and increased copper in individuals with anxiety
7. Copper induced oxidation of serotonin: analysis of products and toxicity
8. The role of serotonin in depression and anxiety
9. Neurotoxic effects of partially oxidized serotonin: tryptamine-4,5-dione