copper metabolism
Last reviewed 01/2018
The absorption of dietary copper occurs in the stomach and the upper small intestine. It is transported to the liver whilst loosely bound to albumin.
In the liver, copper is bound to an alpha-2-globulin to form ceruloplasmin. The copper in ceruloplasmin is non-toxic and is available for distribution throughout the body.
Copper is excreted in the bile.
Disorders of copper metabolism include Wilson's disease and Menke's disease.