Inhibitors of copper bioutilization: fiber, lead, phytate and tannins.

Considerable evidence suggests that copper intakes of Americans have declined in recent years to levels that might be considered seriously low. Under such conditions, other dietary factors which inhibit copper utilization might be of concern since otherwise marginally adequate copper diets might be made copper deficient. A large number of mineral nutrients have been found to interact with copper. Non-nutrient substances in food also may affect copper utilization. Evidence suggesting that lead, certain kinds of dietary fiber, phytates and tannins inhibit copper utilization are reviewed in this paper.