Copper Supplement with Cocoa for Copper Deficiency in Patients with Long-Term Enteral Nutrition.

Abstract

given 30-45g of cocoa (copper content 1.14-1.71mg) per day for about 40 days. Among them, two patients could not condl with cocoa administration, anemia and neutropenia caused by copper deficiency showed a tendency to improve. After completing the study period, cocoa was reduced to 5g (copper content 0.19mg) per day in 23 patients. The mean serum copment for adults has been reported to be 1.28-2.5mg per day. We showed that 10g of cocoa (0.6mg total copper: 0.38mg in cocoa and 0.22mg in other nutrients) is sufficient to treat copper deficiency, and 5g of cocoa (0.37mg total copper: 0.19mg in cocoa and 0.18mg in other nutrients) is enough to maintain the normal level of serum copper in patients with long-term enteral nutrition.

Recovery and Maintenance of Copper Levels in Geriatric Patients on Enteral Feeding for a Prolonged Period

“…In addition, there was no abnormality in nutritional state, physical state or biochemical parameters. There are few reports about treatment of copper deficiency with copper sulfate ( 3,5) or prevention of copper deficiency with cocoa which contains 3.8 mg copper/100 g (8). If patients receive these supplements with no attention of total amount of copper dosage, chronic excessive intake may accumulate a toxic level of copper in the body.…”

Cocoa Supplementation for Copper Deficiency Associated with Tube Feeding Nutrition

“…We also reported a single case from our hospital (6). Since commercially available cocoa powder is rich in copper and is easily mixed into feeding formula, we and others previously suggested using cocoa supplementation for tube feeding formula to improve anemia and leukopenia in these patients (6,7).…”