I was listening to a podcast while on a walk one day and was shocked by what came up in the conversation. Gray hair can indicate copper deficiency. I started going to gray in my 20s. While I did go through some time of coloring it, I have since embraced my gray and love my hair. But I am also a little bothered that I missed an opportunity to clue in to a little message that my body was sending me, which was that I needed more copper.
Copper: An Essential Trace Mineral
“Copper is a mineral that is found throughout the body. It helps your body make red blood cells and keeps nerve cells and your immune system healthy. It also helps form collagen, a key part of bones and connective tissue.”
Source
Apparently copper is super important for our bodies. Copper plays a role in bone formation and connective tissue! (source)
Copper and Scoliosis
A study published in PubMed from 1980 found elevated hair copper levels in patients with idiopathic scoliosis, suggesting that copper may be a factor in the development of the condition (source). A second study conducted in 2008 came to this same conclusion (source).
I am still wrapping my head around this whole copper thing and am trying to make sense of it to be honest. But this research is fascinating and might be worth talking to your doctor to see if copper insufficiency could be playing a role for those who have sustained a scoliosis and can be an early indicator for those who are seeking to prevent scoliosis.
To address copper deficiency or metabolic concern, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate dietary and supplementation recommendations. Incorporating copper-rich foods, such as seafood, nuts, and legumes, into your diet can help improve copper levels (source).
My initial thought is that scoliosis in association with minerals like copper are indicators of a metabolic issue in which these keys minerals are not properly synthesized and utilized in the body. The part I am most unsure of is what it means for high copper levels to be found in hair. Is this an indication of a deficiency? Does our hair provide helpful information for our health? Comment below with your thoughts :)
