COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 193
● Iron Deficiency: Low iron can increase manganese
absorption and worsen symptoms of toxicity.
● Suspected Deficiency: Consider testing in cases of poor
growth (in children), bone weakening, skin rashes, low
cholesterol, or metabolic imbalances4especially if dietary
intake is low or absorption issues are suspected.
● Hormonal or Mood Symptoms in Women: Deficiency may
contribute to PMS symptoms or mood shifts.
Range
Units
Conventional
Less than 2.2 ng/mL
Optimal / Functional
Less than 2.2 ng/mL
Copper
Copper can be measured in both red blood cells (RBCs) and
blood serum:
● RBC copper tests look at the copper inside your cells and are
often better at detecting early deficiencies.
● Serum copper tests measure copper in the fluid part of your
blood, with normal levels ranging from 62 to 140 mcg/dL.
Because inflammation can affect serum copper results, it's helpful
to test C-reactive protein (CRP) at the same time to check for
inflammation.
Another useful marker is ceruloplasmin, a protein that carries
copper in the blood. Testing ceruloplasmin alongside copper
levels can give a clearer picture of copper balance and related
health issues.
When to use this test:
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