Copper: an antioxidant nutrient for cardiovascular health.

Dietary copper often is low in the Western diet; low intakes may affect all stages of atherosclerosis adversely. Impaired oxidative defense in copper deficiency contributes to hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and impaired prostaglandin metabolism. Free copper ion does not exist in vivo; some in-vitro experiments are conducted with millions-fold excesses.