Plasma copper and bone mineral density in osteopenia: an indicator of bone mineral density in osteopenic females.

Copper concentrations in blood plasma have been determined in 25 osteopenic females using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. A high degree of correlations has been demonstrated between the copper concentrations in plasma and the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine as measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computerized tomography. Results clearly indicate the involvement of copper in bone health and osteopenia. It is further suggested that plasma copper might be useful as a cheap and simple method indicative of bone mineral density in osteopenic postmenopausal females.